Top Reform councillor leaves leadership role
A senior Reform councillor has left his leadership role on Lincolnshire County Council.
Councillor Liam Kelly was previously the Executive Councillor for Growth, one of the most influential roles on the authority.
Coun Kelly said he would speak about the reasons at a later date.
Coun Kelly was seen sitting on the backbenches at the full meeting of Lincolnshire County Council on Friday (May 22) rather than his usual position at the front.
The Reform group didn’t address the change during the meeting, although the council’s website has been updated to show Coun Matthews taking over the portfolio for Growth.
Conservative Councillor Tom Dyer told the meeting he witnessed the alleged sacking at a conference on Monday evening.
“Councillor Kelly conducted himself to the highest standards of any member. He has kept his cool, toed the party line and handled himself well,” he said.
“It’s a real shame that Coun Matthews has removed someone from the Executive who was doing a good job and doing it for the right reasons. It’s a real loss for the council.”
Another councillor described him as being “chucked out”.
Coun Kelly recently became leader of the Reform UK group on City of Lincoln Council after the party won its first seats in May’s local elections, becoming the third largest party.
“We will ensure scrutiny of all expenditure, and hold the Labour council to account,” he said after the result.
“We will do everything we can do to benefit the residents of Lincoln. Everything will be about family, community and country.”
He had been a leading figure in trying to transform what he claimed was a “bureaucratic, inflexible culture” at Lincolnshire County Council.