Lancaster and Morecambe councillors join new Lancashire County Council cabinet

County Councillors Graham Dalton and Brian Moore

Two councillors from Lancaster and Morecambe have been appointed to the new Reform UK Lancashire County Council cabinet.

County Councillor Graham Dalton, of Lancaster Rural North, is the new cabinet member for adult social care.

County Councillor Brian Moore, of Morecambe South, is the new cabinet member for economic development and growth.

The cabinet was announced by County Councillor Stephen Atkinson as he was named the new leader of Lancashire County Council, at the first meeting of full council since Reform won the majority of seats in the recent local elections.

County Councillor Atkinson, who represents Ribble Valley South for Reform UK, said at Thursday's meeting that it was "a day of history" and "a new dawn, a new beginning".

He said decision-making would be based on: "Does our decision make life better for the residents of Lancashire? If the answer is yes, we do it." 

Reform UK won 53 of the 84 available seats in the May 1 elections.

County Councillor Atkinson said: "We have been given a mandate for change and we intend to deliver."

He said they would do so with "the highest levels of professionalism and courtesy" and said they had inherited challenges including "adult social care, SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability), debt and crumbling roads".

The other cabinet members will be Reform UK councillors: County Councillor Simon Evans (deputy chair, cabinet member for children and families), County Councillor Ged Mirfin (resources, HR and property), County Councillor Daniel Matchett (health and wellbeing), County Councillor Matthew Salter (education and skills), County Councillor David Dwyer (data technology, customer and efficiency), County Councillor Warren Goldsworthy (highways and transport) and County Councillor Joshua Roberts (rural affairs, environment and communities).

Also at Thursday's meeting, Conservatives slammed members of the new Progressive Lancashire group which includes Lancaster county councillors Hamish Mills, Gina Dowding and Paul Stubbins.

The new group, an alliance of 11 Greens and independent councillors, was formed after the elections, saying they will be a "strong voice of opposition and challenge" to Reform UK.

But Tory County Councillor Aidy Riggott said Progressive Lancashire "should be ashamed of themselves" and that "we should be the largest opposition group" as the Tories won the second highest number of seats of parties who stood in the election.

"The Conservatives stand ready to offer the necessary scrutiny and challenge to the new administration," he said.

The Conservatives led the county council prior to this month's elections.

County Councillor Gina Dowding, from Lancaster Central and deputy leader of Progressive Lancashire (below), said: "The political make-up of this chamber has changed dramatically. We are the largest opposition group, for now. Our electorate expect us to hold Reform to account."

County Councillor Azhar Ali OBE, leader of Progressive Lancashire, said County Councillor Riggott was "a very sore loser".

"He forgets the Conservatives went from 46 councillors to eight. They were decimated."

The county council's political governance working group, a cross-party group set up to discuss matters relating to the political administration of the council, including any amendments to the constitution, will meet in due course.

Labour have five seats on Lancashire County Council, the Liberal Democrats have five, the Greens have four, there are four independents, three councillors not specified and two representing Our West Lancashire.

Read more: Lancaster councillors join 'progressive alliance' to challenge Reform UK - Beyond Radio

ELECTIONS: Reform UK win most seats in Lancaster and Morecambe en route to taking Lancashire control - Beyond Radio

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