Tory anger as Independents and Greens form County Hall opposition

The Green Party and a group of independent councillors have joined forces to become the official opposition to Reform UK on Lancashire County Council.

- by Paul Faulkner

The 11-strong alliance has branded itself "Progressive Lancashire" and will be the second-largest grouping after Reform, which took control of County Hall following this month's local elections.

Made up of all seven independents-three of whom are from Preston - and the four Greens who sit on the authority, the contingent will be led by former Labour group leader Azhar Ali, now an independent, with Green leader Gina Dowding as his deputy.

It means that the largest single opposition group on the county council - the Conservatives, who now have just eight members after having been in charge for the last eight years - will not be conferred with the official opposition status they would otherwise have secured, prompting howls of protest from their new leader.