Reform UK has announced Councillor Stephen Atkinson as the new leader of Lancashire County Council, following a decisive victory in the local elections on 1 May.
The party won 53 of the 84 available seats, securing overall control of the authority.
Atkinson, 55, formerly led Ribble Valley Council before switching allegiance from the Conservatives. He was elected to represent Ribble Valley South West with 2,174 votes.
“I am passionate about Lancashire and can’t wait to begin work ensuring the council delivers excellent services for all our residents,” Atkinson said. “Together with my fellow councillors, I aim to focus on what matters most to residents so we can make a real difference.”
A native of Lancashire, Atkinson is a self-taught engineer who started his first business with his brother at age 21. Today, they co-own an educational furniture company and invest in commercial and industrial property across the county. He is married with two sons and describes himself as a devoted family man.
Lancashire County Council confirmed that Atkinson is set to be formally ratified as council leader during a full council meeting on 22 May.
Councillor Simon Evans, representing Skelmersdale Central, has been named deputy leader of the Reform UK group and is also expected to be ratified along with other cabinet appointments.
Reform UK's dramatic rise reshaped the council's political landscape, unseating both Conservative leader Philippa Williamson and Labour leader Matthew Tomlinson. Williamson lost her seat by 29 votes to Reform’s Graham Dalton, while Tomlinson was defeated by Hannah Whalley with a margin of 440 votes.
The Conservatives had controlled the council since 2017, having secured victories in both the 2017 and 2021 elections. Photo by Alexander P Kapp, Wikimedia commons.