Lib Dems say stopping Reform is main election aim

Stopping Reform UK from taking control of a council is the priority for the Liberal Democrats in a local election, according to the party's deputy leader.

Following a rally in Norfolk, Daisy Cooper said her party would invest in services and improve transport, if it were part of a coalition controlling the county council.

Cooper warned that Reform-led authorities in other parts of the country had been "consumed with scandal and chaos".

David Bick, a Reform county councillor, said the criticism was "utter nonsense" and his party had candidates with "a very wide range of talents".

With 10 seats, the Liberal Democrats are currently the second largest party on the council, which is run by the Conservatives, who hold 51.

The rest of the council is made up of Green, Labour, Reform and independent members.

Cooper was addressing candidates in North Walsham in north Norfolk, something of a stronghold for the party - it runs the area's district council and has the local MP Steff Aquarone.

While the Lib Dems are aiming to increase their number of councillors, they are not expecting to take control of the authority, instead hoping to be part of a controlling coalition.

"We're very clear that our goal is to stop Reform and to kick out the Conservatives," said Cooper.

"There is a way, mathematically, in which we may be able to stop Reform from running this council."

Taking aim at Reform-run councils – such as Worcestershire, where members sacked their own leader on Friday – Cooper said "they've been absolutely consumed with scandal and chaos".

Bick, one of two Reform county councillors, hit back and described her comments as "just utter nonsense".

"We've got a very wide range of talents in our group," he said.

"We are under the microscope like no other party. We've only got to sneeze and we're a headline."

Cooper said her party hoped to gain votes with a local manifesto including the promise of half-price bus passes for under-25s and using artificial intelligence to improve pothole repairs.

"When Liberal Democrats are in charge, we invest in services, we protect services, we look after our local communities," she added.

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