Three-party coalition formed to run Brentwood

A new coalition has been formed to run Brentwood Borough Council.

The local authority in Essex will be ruled by a group of 16 Liberal Democrats, two Labour members and two independents.

Lib Dems and Labour were already running the council, but both parties lost a seat each at the 7 May local elections, as Reform UK made gains.

Barry Aspinell, from the Lib Dems, will continue as leader, following a meeting at the town hall on Wednesday.

The opposition Conservative group have 11 seats and Reform has eight.

Will Russell, leader of the Tory group, said: "There is no escaping the fact that these recent local elections have delivered a clear and significant shift in our local political landscape.

"This outcome is a powerful reminder of how exactly our democratic process works."

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