New county council leader elected

Former police officer Sean Matthews (pictured above) is the new leader of Lincolnshire County Council.

Cllr Matthews won his Tattershall Castle seat in last week’s elections, which saw his Reform UK party take control of the council by winning 44 of the 70 seats.

He was elected as group leader with Cllr Rob Gibson of Spalding East as his deputy.

Cllr Matthews retired from royalty protection in the Metropolitan Police seven years ago and lives in Lincolnshire with his family.

Cllr Matthews said he was committed to making Lincolnshire County Council work better for local people: “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.”

Appointing other senior positions, such as members of the executive, the chairman and vice-chairman, will be decided by the group and put forward to the council’s annual meeting on Friday, May 23, for formal agreement.

The Conservatives are now the council’s main opposition group and its new leader is Cllr Richard Davies following the resignation Cllr Martin Hill. 

Cllr Trevor Young is the leader of the Liberal Democrats while Cllr Karen Lee heads the Labour group and Cllr Phil Dilks leads the Independents.

Pictured below are Reform UK county councillors with Greater Lincolnshire Mayor Dame Andrea Jenkyns (front right). Picture: Reform UK