Reform UK may be largest party on council - but will its councillors be allowed to lead it?

                                         

Currently NELC leader, but not necessarily for much longer - Cllr Philip Jackson

A FIERCE power struggle is looming for control of North East Lincolnshire Council in the wake of last night's local election results.

With 14 of the authority's 42 seats, Reform UK is now the largest party.

But its tally falls well short of bringing it overall control.

At NELC's annual meeting later this month, the four other political groups - Conservative (10), Independent (4), Labour (11) and Liberal-Democrat (3) - will all have a say in who will assume the leadership along with the positions in cabinet.

The current leader, Cllr Philip Jackson (Con, Waltham), could seek to strike a deal with Oliver Freeston (Reform UK, Croft Baker), who is likely to be elected leader of  his own party.

But would the former be willing to serve in the same cabinet, especially in a junior role, as a man who defected from the Conservatives?

It seems more likely Cllr Jackson will seek to woo the Liberal-Democrats and Independents by offering them places  in the cabinet, with him remaining at the helm.

It is understood that  constitution of the Labour Party would prevent any formal pact between its councillors and their Conservative counterparts, but they may be offered sweeteners in the form of chairing roles on the committees and scrutiny panels if this guarantees exclusion of Reform UK for which Labour has nothing but contempt.

But, as the second largest group, could Labour, itself, make an audacious play for the spoils?

If no deals can be done, a stalemate would ensue.

And what would that mean for the stability of NELC?