Leader elected in council's minority administration

A new Conservative leader has been elected for Swindon Borough Council after the party won the most seats at the local election earlier this month.

Councillor Gary Sumner was elected at a meeting on Friday afternoon. It comes as the council is now in no overall control by any political party since the local elections earlier in May. Labour had previously run the authority since 2023.

As the largest party, the Conservatives will lead with a minority administration, after winning 23 seats, six short of a majority.

Sumner gained support from 14 new Reform UK councillors as well as his own party to become leader. He said he was looking forward to the "four years we have to deliver change".

But he added he was "disappointed" the vote was not unanimous.

"What people want to see is a physical change, a different approach. We have a borough council with a budget issue, we need a council that generates additional income," he added.

The Conservatives said in a statement they had offered its own councillors, as well as Labour and Reform councillors, "certain chair positions on council committees and other bodies - roles that would normally be held solely by the ruling administration".

Meanwhile Reform UK swore in their first ever Swindon councillors, with Haydon Wick councillor James Head calling it a "historic day".

In every vote for council committee chairs and vice chairs, Reform councillors almost exclusively voted for their own or Conservative nominations only, suggesting an informal arrangement of support between parties.

Labour won the council from the Conservatives previously, but only got 19 seats in the recent election on 7 May, including one for former leader Jim Robbins.

Robbins he believes there was a deal between Reform and Conservatives.

Sumner responded there had not been a deal, "but the reality is we have to work with other people".

The new mayor for Swindon, Labour councillor Neil Hopkins, said: "We may have different views, we all want to do the best for our town."

Outgoing mayor Fay Howard said: "The town needs you to work together."

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