Bradford Council leader emerged from a chaotic meeting after Reform secured the top political role in the district, ending weeks of uncertainty over who would take control following the local elections.
Stephen Place now leads Bradford Council after councillors held a tense vote during Tuesday’s annual meeting. The former police officer, who won the Royds ward seat earlier this month, stepped into one of the most powerful political positions in West Yorkshire.
However, the lengthy three-hour meeting exposed the fragile position Reform faces despite becoming the largest party. While Reform gained the most seats in the local elections, the party does not hold an overall majority. Because of that, it may struggle to push through key decisions without support from political rivals.
Earlier this month, Reform won 29 seats on the council, making it the largest single group. That total later fell to 28 after one councillor reportedly left the party following controversy over historic social media posts. Even so, Reform remained the largest party, although it stayed well short of the 46 seats needed for outright control.
At the meeting, fellow councillor Oliver Bolton-Williams nominated Place to become Bradford Council leader. All 28 Reform councillors voted in his favour during the first round. Meanwhile, opposition parties united to block the nomination, with 35 members voting against him. Conservative councillors chose to abstain, leaving Place short of victory.
As a result, council officials paused proceedings and invited party leaders into private talks to decide how to move forward. The break lasted several minutes while councillors discussed the deadlock behind closed doors.
When the meeting resumed, Reform changed its strategy. The party nominated both Place and Andrew Judson for the leadership role. Councillors then had to vote for one of the two candidates or abstain. Place once again secured all 28 Reform votes, while Judson received none. Every other councillor abstained, which allowed Place to take the role.
Despite winning the top position, Reform failed to secure wider control of the authority. Councillors later voted on chairs and deputy chairs for major committees, including governance, licensing, standards and scrutiny panels.
Reform put forward candidates for every committee role. Nevertheless, opposition groups won every vote, giving rival parties control of the council’s key oversight bodies. That outcome means Reform will lead the authority but face strong opposition on many important decisions.
After the meeting, Place thanked residents for their support and pledged to focus on economic growth. He said his priorities include attracting new businesses, improving public safety and making Bradford a cleaner and more prosperous district.
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