Reform UK council group forms shadow cabinet

Reform UK's group leader said its shadow cabinet would make sure "Plymouth residents' voices are heard".

Councillor Steve Ricketts said 10 members of Reform's Plymouth City Council group had been selected to take responsibility for key areas of policy including health, finance and housing.

He said the shadow cabinet would be about more than "simply opposing Labour", who has control of the authority.

Reform gained 14 seats at May's local elections in Plymouth, adding to the two they already had, but since then, councillor Carol Ney has resigned from the party and become independent, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

"We want to develop practical Reform UK policies, challenge poor decisions and make sure Plymouth residents' voices are heard," Ricketts said.

"We have a talented team of councillors with a wide range of experience and I am confident they will work hard to hold this Labour administration to account."

Plymouth City Council is made up of 30 Labour councillors, 15 from Reform UK, six Independents, three Greens and three Conservatives.

Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.