Staffordshire Council's ruling Reform group elects third new leader in four months
Martin Murray has become the third leader of Staffordshire Council's ruling group in four months.
Councillor Martin Murray has been elected leader of the county's Reform UK group, and will formally take up the role as leader of the council at a meeting on March 26.
He succeeds Councillor Chris Large who was elected leader of the group on January 30, but resigned within days, before formally taking over the leadership of the council.
His predecessor, Councillor Ian Cooper, was expelled from the party in December over posts he had made on social media before he assumed the role.
Both councillors now sit as independent members of the council.
Reform UK took control of Staffordshire Council in May last year following a landslide win in the local elections.
Councillor Murray had been serving as acting leader of the council since Councillor Cooper's resignation, and is also cabinet member for economy and skills.
Councillor Hayley Coles, cabinet member for communities and culture, has been appointed deputy leader of the group, and is expected to be formally appointed deputy council leader at the March 26 meeting.
The council said its day‑to‑day operations would continue as normal and the council would press on in delivering its new strategic direction across all cabinet portfolios.
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