New leader for council

DEVON'S Liberal Democrats have appointed Julian Brazil as their leader, marking a change atop the group after its election surge.

- by BRADLEY GERRARD Local Democracy Reporter

A vote put Councillor Brazil in charge of the party, which secured the most seats of any single group in the Devon County Council elections on May 1.

The Lib Dems tripled the number of seats they hold, after entering the election with nine and emerging with 27. However, the party is short of an overall majority - which would have been 31 out of the total 60 seats - partly because of the significant performance by Reform UK, which is now the second largest party at County Hall with 18 seats.