Reform won all Ilkeston and Long Eaton seats as it swept to control of Derbyshire County Council. The party took over from the Conservatives in a major shock repeated across many parts of the UK. The county council has massive debts and runs schools, social care and is responsible for maintaining roads.
The result does not directly affect Erewash borough council, which remains under Labour control and is next due to go to the polls in 2027.
In a statement, Reform UK said: “We are going to look at finances, the processes of the county council and the red tape. We are not going to make promises we can’t deliver.”
Erewash borough council leader James Dawson said he believed the relationship with the county should not change “when it comes to day-to-day things.”
But he said they would have to wait and see Reform’s priorities now they run the county council. The Conservatives are the largest opposition party at County Hall with 12 of the 64 seats. Reform has 42. Councillor Wayne Major, Conservative opposition leader on Erewash, retained his county seat in Sandiacre, He will be joined by fellow Tory Paul Maginnis who gained 17 votes more than Reform in Sawley.
Councillor Major said: “Reform UK now has control of Derbyshire County Council and is responsible for an annual budget of £770 million. “For the sake of the people of Derbyshire, I wish them well in this significant responsibility. Their victory was convincing, and they now have the opportunity to prove they can deliver.
“While there may be areas where Conservatives and Reform agree, there will undoubtedly be many where we do not. We will now see whether their actions live up to their rhetoric.
“Where we find common ground, we will work with the new administration. However, when we believe they are making mistakes, we will not hesitate to speak out. We will be a constructive but robust opposition, holding them to account if they fail the people of Derbyshire.
“I hope they will show they have minds of their own and will not simply wait for instructions from Nigel Farage.
“Although I remain sceptical about their abilities and some of their proposed approaches, it is clear they have a mandate. They should be given a genuine chance to prove themselves.”
The two Erewash councillors plan to pay close attention to Reform’s approach to local government reorganisation, which could see a shake-up in three years.
Several schemes are being considered in a move to get rid of borough councils like Erewash and Amber Valley. On suggests having a single authority covering Derby, Erewash and South Derbyshire with possibly Amber Valley. Another is for Amber Valley to join a council covering the north part of the county.
Results in Erewash and Heanor.
Breaston
John Lawson Reform UK 1512 Elected
Garry Hickton Conservative 1211
Greg Maskalick Labour 619
Ann Mills Green Party 427
Alexander Richards Liberal Democrat 269
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Heanor
Peter Mathews Reform UK 1131 Elected
Alexander Stevenson Independent 746
Jason Edge Labour 461
Mayo Oliver Conservative 365
Sue Castillon Green Party 231
Jerry Marler Liberal Democrat 149
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Ilkeston Central
Richard Hatfield Reform UK 1914 Elected
Josy Hare Labour 607
Robert Flatley Conservative 555
Heather Hierons Green Party 210
David Dodson Liberal Democrat 178
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Ilkeston North
Dan Price Reform UK 1814 Elected
Linda Burns Labour 569
Michael White Conservative 469
Lauren McKie Green Party 198
Angela Togni Liberal Democrat 198
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Ilkeston South and Kirk Hallam
Simon Mabbott Reform UK 1405 Elected
James Dawson Labour 404
Kevin Miller Conservative 386
Deena Draycott Green Party 199
Jennifer Smith Liberal Democrat 109
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Long Eaton North
Jack Bradley Reform UK 1121 Elected
George Carr-Williamson Labour 767
Bethan Eddy Conservative 720
Jane Oseman Liberal Democrat 295
Graham Tavener Green Party 228
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Long Eaton South
Jodie Brown Reform UK 1115 Elected
Joel Bryan Labour and Co-operative 771
Lorna Maginnis Conservative 664
Rachel Allen Liberal Democrat 239
Mell Catori Green Party 227
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Sandiacre
Wayne Major Conservative 1298 Elected
Dan Naylor Reform UK 1059
Daisy Forster Labour 495 16%
Kristopher Watts Liberal Democrat 181
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Sawley
Paul Maginnis Conservative 1328 Elected
Ian Peatfield Reform UK 1311
Dave Doyle Labour 1031
James Archer Liberal Democrat 498
