What the hell just happened in Worcestershire?
If you have no idea what is going on, that’s probably because you’ve been paying attention.
The facts are fluid, and changing all the time. What’s more, most of those involved in this story would probably rather not own up to their part in it. You may soon understand why.
Largest party
In 2025, Reform UK won 27 of the 57 available council seats, coming just two shy of an overall majority. They won on promises to “cut your council taxes,” “cut waste”, and “fix your council.”
As the largest party in the county, they were able to install Jo Monk as Leader of the Council, and with the Tories being the largest opposition group, you might be forgiven for imagining a period of stable (if very right wing) governance was ahead.
Yeah, nah.
Within a year, Reform lost two councillors – one to resignation, another to defection.
Broken promises
Breaking all their election promises, they put up council taxes by 9% (while also raising senior officer pay), and in the run-up to this year’s AGM, they overthrew Jo Monk as group leader, replacing her with the political arch-chameleon Alan Amos.
Jo didn’t take this humiliation lying down however, and launched two plots to try and hang onto power: one to try and get the Tories to prop her up, the other to try and put her son Ashley into the leader’s chair without a vote.
Out the door
Both these schemes were shot down, and Reform UK rewarded her strategic genius with a swift kick out the door. “And take your idiot son with you!”
Now for the main event.
During the AGM itself, Reform suffered several more defections, bringing their number down to 22, (last anybody was able to check).
Outnumbered
Their attempt to install Amos as council leader was easily defeated as by now, Reform were significantly outnumbered by their opponents – a newly minted Progressive Alliance composed of Greens, Lib Dems… and Tories.
Odd…
Still, they were united on at least one point: it was time for Anybody But Amos to take the stand.
Green Councillor Matt Jenkins wasn’t Alan Amos. He would do. And so the newly-minded progressive (ish) alliance voted him in as leader.
Worcestershire celebrated. But not for long.
Because as soon as the meeting closed, a bombshell struck. Adam Kent, the Tory group leader, had “forgotten” to check with CCHQ that this deal had their blessing. It did not.
He was promptly suspended as a member of the Conservative Party, pending investigation – and the deal was dead, with the ink still wet on the paper.
Post mortem
So as we conduct a post-mortem on not one, but two council leaderships, we have to ask – what did Worcestershire get from 12 months of Reform UK?
A 9% council tax rise. Services that are just as broken as they were under the Tories – with more cuts on the way. A council chamber where nobody has a snowball’s chance in hell of forming a stable leadership.
And an object lesson in why, if Nigel offers to “fix” something for you, you should probably look for a more reputable dealer. 
