Reform elects new leader in Staffordshire following resignation of Ian Cooper
Staffordshire Council's ruling Reform UK group has elected a new leader, after its previous leader was suspended from the party.
Councillor Chris Large was elected group, succeeding Councillor Ian Cooper who was suspended by the party over comments he had made on social media.
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While Councillor Large is now leader of the controlling group, Councillor Martin Little will remain acting leader of the authority until the next meeting of the council on February 12.
A new leader will formally be elected at that meeting.
At present Councillor Large serves as cabinet member for finance and resources.
Councillor Cooper, who remains as an independent member in Tamworth, became leader of the council following the elections in May last year, when the party achieved a landslide win from the Conservatives.
He resigned as leader shortly after being suspended by the party over allegations of racist social media activity.
Referring to senior cabinet minister David Lammy, he is alleged to have said 'no foreign national or first generation migrant should be allowed to sit in Parliament'.
He was also alleged to have been a 'top fan' of controversial Facebook group The European Race.
