Reform ends Tories' 25-year control of Essex County Council

Reform has won control of Essex County Council and ended the Conservatives' 25-year reign at the local authority. Nigel Farage's party have 53 seats on the authority, a significant majority, after counting overnight and this morning. Newly-elected Reform councillor Peter Harris said it was a "fantastic result for the people of Essex" and that residents wanted "change". The party also swept to victory at Thurrock Council, and took seats from Labour, Tories and independents at district council elections in the county. Harris told the BBC: "People will be waking up today delighted that they've got that change, and yes, they will hold us to account, and we will rise to that challenge - but we will do what we say we're going to do, and Essex will have a brighter future." Former Tory Essex County Council leader Kevin Bentley, who has been on the authority for 17 years, lost his seat. "It's democracy, and it's very important democracy is upheld - that's why we fought very hard, and I was very vocal about not cancelling these elections," he said. "It's important that people have their say." Several other Essex County Council cabinet members lost seats, including John Spence, in charge of a