'Chaos' at council: Could Reform split in county?

A Reform politician who is trying to become leader of Worcestershire County Council could be facing a challenge from within his own group - with opponents claiming the administration is in a state of chaos.

Reform ousted their own group leader, councillor Jo Monk, with Alan Amos replacing her in an internal leadership vote last month.

Now, a leaked email seen by the BBC has revealed how Monk has informed senior council staff of "the possibility" of several Reform councillors breaking away "to form a new group".

It comes ahead of a vote to elect a new leader in a full council meeting on Thursday, with Reform already running the authority as a minority administration.

On Monday, Monk was suspended by Reform's national office, with party officials claiming she was "refusing to accept the democratic decision" which saw her replaced as group leader by Amos.

Her son Ashley, also a councillor, has also been suspended for bringing the party into disrepute.

Ashley Monk has since quit the party, while Jo Monk remains council leader until Thursday's vote - despite the fact she is suspended and is no longer politically aligned with her cabinet.

The BBC also understands Bromsgrove Reform councillor Nik Price has put himself forward as an alternative leader, with several other Reform councillors supporting an attempt to force a fresh vote within the group to elect him as their leader before the meeting.

Amos has emailed Reform councillors appealing for unity in a bid to kill the plotting off.

In it, he said "the Tories destroyed themselves by having three leaders in three weeks", adding "the only thing that can stop us succeeding is disloyalty and betrayal within our own ranks."

Conservative group leader Councillor Adam Kent said: "They've ousted their own group leader to the point where they've got a different leader of Reform to the leader of the council.

"Now we've got these suspensions - it really is absolute chaos."

Green Councillor Matt Jenkins, leader of the Green and Independent Alliance, said: "Reform appears to be in chaos - after getting rid of one elected leader and electing Alan Amos, they are now realising what a mistake that was.

"They may need to find another leader before the week is out - it is a mess."

Lib Dem group leader Dan Boatright-Greene said: "I've never seen anything like this before - this all down to personal politics, not what is best for the residents.

"Frankly it is chaos, the council is completely ungovernable at the moment and we all have no idea what is going to happen (on Thursday)."

The BBC has contacted Amos and Jo Monk for comment.

Reform came to power one year ago in Worcestershire - and nobody can deny it has been lively.

At the time they had 27 councillors, two short of an overall majority but comfortably enough to govern as a minority administration.

Since then one councillor has resigned due to ill health, another quit the party on live TV, and now the "two Monks" are out, leaving Reform with just 23 of the 57.

They are still the largest party by some distance - the main opposition are the Conservatives with 12 - but the question is whether they can unite and halt the infighting.

Independent councillor David Taylor - a former Reform cabinet member - is known to be in talks about forming a new breakaway group of unhappy Reform councillors, muddying the picture further.

The BBC understands at least eight current or former Reform councillors could be part of it.

There is also the prospect of another contender emerging from the opposition ranks, although it would likely require the support of the 10-strong Green and Independent Alliance, as well as the seven Lib Dems and the Conservatives.

The picture is fragmented, but something will have to give on Thursday.

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