'We'll turn the ship around': Reform leader speaks about ending Labour's 47 years in charge of Sandwell

The final result gave Reform 41 seats and an outright majority.

Labour secured 28 seats, the Greens two. There was one independent and the Conservatives did not win a single seat.

The new leader-elect of Sandwell Council spoke of his pride following Reform UK’s stunning victory in what was a Labour stronghold.

Councillor Ray Nock said he was thrilled with the result, and pledged to ‘get Sandwell working again’.

“We’re going to turn this ship around,” he said, giving his first media interview to the Express & Star, saying his first task would be to meet with the council’s finance officers to “look at the books”.

“I have been working so hard for the past three years to put all this together, so it’s now a proud moment.”

But he repeated his promise to reintroduce free parking on council car parks, a measure which he said would be in place within weeks.

It is a remarkable comeback for Councillor Nock, who had previously served as a Conservative councillor before losing his seat in 2012.

He sent his commiserations and best wishes to outgoing council leader, Labour’s Kerrie Carmichael, who lost her seat to Reform.

“I’ve known Kerrie for a long time, and I feel for her, I know what it’s like, I went through it when I lost my seat in 2012. I wish her all the best.”

Since the authority was created in 1974, Sandwell has been Labour-controlled for all but one of its 52 years.

The Conservatives briefly took control in May 1978, but Labour retook it the following year, and it has held it with little difficulty ever since. Throughout the Conservative landslides of the 1980s, the council remained solidly red. While the Iraq war, the 2008 recession, and the election of a handful of BNP councillors loosened its grip in the 2000s, its dominance never looked in any real danger.

And, before this election, the party held 63 of the council’s 72 seats, with the opposition Tories being able to muster just four councillors in reply.

Ms Carmichael said she was looking forward to taking a break from politics after losing her seat, saying she was proud of her four years in charge of the authority.

“I’m leaving with my head held high. I’ve spent the last four years working really hard to turn this council around, I think I’ve done that, and left it in good shape for someone else,” she said.

“I hope they don’t mess it up.”

She said people had used the election to voice their disquiet with the Government.

“Some of the polls said Labour would be obliterated in Sandwell, but that has not happened, I’m pleased for the ones who are still there.”

She said she was not sure whether she would stand for election again.

“At the moment I would say not, I’m getting on a bit and could do with a break.

"The first thing I am thinking about is a holiday.”