Tattershall Castle and Spalding West councillors named as new leaders of Reform UK on Lincolnshire County Council

The likely new leaders of Lincolnshire County Council have finally been announced - nearly a week after the election.

Sean Matthews, councillor for Tattershall Castle, has been chosen as Reform UK’s county council leader — meaning he’s likely to be rubber stamped as the authority’s overall leader on May 23, when the body formally picks its new leader.

At last week’s elections Reform UK won 44 out of the 70 seats on the authority putting it firmly in charge at County Hall.

Spalding West representative Rob Gibson, the former South Holland Independents councillor who defected earlier this year, is set to be deputy.

Coun Matthews said: “It’s an honour and a privilege to have been elected leader of the Reform UK group on Lincolnshire County Council.

“What we have achieved here is incredible. From a standing start we now have full control of the council and an excellent Greater Lincolnshire mayor in Andrea Jenkyns.

“The people of Lincolnshire have given us a clear mandate for serious change and we fully intend to deliver that.”

Mr Matthews retired from royalty protection in the Met Police seven years ago and lives in Lincolnshire alongside his family and grandchildren.