Reform picks Kevin Crook as Leicestershire council leader candidate; vote on 2 December
Reform UK councillors chose acting leader Kevin Crook on 10 November as their candidate for Leicestershire County Council leader; a full council vote follows on
Reform UK councillors chose acting leader Kevin Crook on Tuesday 10 November as their candidate to lead Leicestershire County Council, with a full council vote due on Wednesday 2 December.
Crook, the deputy leader, took over temporarily after Dan Harrison resigned on Monday 2 November following the release of a recording of remarks made at a private meeting. Reform unanimously elected Crook as its group leader.
The December vote will determine whether Reform keeps control of the council. The party has run a minority administration since May 2025 and holds 23 of the 55 seats. According to Crook, his nomination would require the other parties to refrain from opposing it. He argued: “Democratically speaking, we are the largest group within the council and by rights the largest group should be the administration.”
The Conservatives have 15 councillors, the Liberal Democrats 11 and Labour three. The Green Party, Restore Britain and an independent each have one seat.
Liberal Democrat group leader Michael Mullaney said his councillors would not support either a Reform or a Conservative candidate. Labour group leader Jewel Miah said his party would not back Reform. Conservative group leader Deborah Taylor said discussions about her party’s next steps were continuing.
In the recording, Harrison said he wanted to sack 76 council solicitors, called them “incompetent” and then said he wanted to look at the women. Crook said Harrison had apologised and that he had also offered an apology.
Crook said of council staff: “The officers at County Hall do a remarkable job. I have the utmost respect for them.”
In a statement published on 3 November, Crook listed finances, potholes and flood prevention among his priorities and said: “My number one priority is providing stability and delivering for the people of Leicestershire.”
Leicestershire County Council says its public meetings are streamed live on its YouTube channel, where recordings are also available.
