What next for Reform in Norfolk?

Reform UK were the big winners in the elections for Norfolk County Council.

The party swept aside opposition in many areas, winning the most seats in places including Breckland, Broadland, south and west Norfolk.

The party saw its number of councillors dramatically increase from two to 40.

But with 84 seats on the council, that was still short of the 43 needed for a majority.

So what happens next?

Reform's councillors are set to meet at County Hall on Tuesday and a key decision will be who should lead them.

Previously, when the party had just two councillors, Julian Kirk was the group's official leader.

But, with numbers having swelled significantly, that may change and it is possible that Reform's other previous councillor, David Bick, will be chosen.

His background is in financial PR and he's been involved in some major takeovers in the world of football, including the purchase of Newcastle United by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.

Near the top of the agenda will be the decision on whether Reform wish to run the council as a minority administration or seek to partner with another group.

Minority administrations are not uncommon in local authorities and they can still allow those in charge to make most decisions.

When the full council meets on 28 May, members will need to agree on who should be its leader.

If a majority agree to back Reform's chosen candidate, the party will take power – and the leader will select their cabinet.

Members of the cabinet have a wide range of decision-making powers, with the full council only getting a vote on occasions such as setting a budget for the year.

Reform councillors could look to create a coalition for a majority or aim for a more informal agreement, where another party agrees to support them on an issue-by-issue basis.

Whether another group would be interested in doing that is another thing altogether.

The Greens have said they will not, while the Conservative leader Kay Mason Billig said: "I don't think so."

Meanwhile the Liberal Democrat leader Brian Watkins said it was "highly unlikely because their principles are very different from ours, but you never say never".

The new Great Yarmouth First party might seem unlikely bedfellows, given founder Rupert Lowe's bitter split with Reform last year – but it has not been ruled out.

"We would have to go away and discuss what would be in the best interests for the people of Great Yarmouth," said Lowe, the town's MP.

The current situation does bear some similarities to 2013, when the Conservatives won 40 seats - which was not enough for a majority then either.

Instead Labour, UKIP, the Liberal Democrats and Greens formed a "rainbow alliance" to run the council.

While the other parties on the council could attempt to do something similar, it seems unlikely.

During the election campaign Reform took the unusual step of making no promises in a local manifesto.

Bick warned that with the council's debts approaching £900m, a financial review needed to take place before his party could commit to other policies.

After winning his seat on Friday, Nick Taylor, Reform's Norwich chairman, reiterated that "top of the list is to address the financial crisis of County Hall".

"Then we have to find some savings and efficiency savings," he said.

Taylor said a Reform-run council might seek to challenge the government's plans for local government reorganisation.

Do you have a story suggestion for Norfolk? Contact us below.

Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.