Reform UK members of Stevenage Borough Council have elected Liam Morrell Phillips as leader of their party’s group.
Cllr Morrell Phillips, 26, became one of nine newly elected Reform UK councillors at this month’s elections, with the party now holding 10 of the council’s 39 seats and replacing the Liberal Democrats as the official opposition.
The new group leader told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that he believes “too much time [has been] wasted arguing about pointless things” in the council chamber.
He said the parties will “have differing opinions sometimes, and that is fine”, but stressed the need for councillors to “work together … no matter what party we’re from” to help the town’s residents.
Cllr Morrell Phillips, who runs a kerbside electric vehicle charging company called LMP Energy, said he has been actively involved in politics for around two years.
During that time, he has served as treasurer and chair of Reform UK’s Stevenage branch, and campaigned for the party in last year’s county council elections.
He believes his background and experience will stand him in good stead as leader of the party’s group on the council.
Cllr Morrell Phillips, who represents Roebuck ward, said: “When I was fortunate enough to get elected, we [Reform UK councillors] all sat down and had a conversation, and it was suggested that I put myself forward.”
A group meeting was held on Friday, May 15, and elections were held for the leadership and deputy leadership positions.
In the former, Cllr Morrell Phillips saw off competition from Matthew Hurst, and in the latter, Doug Bainbridge – leader of the party’s Hertfordshire County Council group and a former Labour and Conservative member of the borough council – was elected with more votes than the other candidate, Rob Henry.
“We felt it was important to have multiple people put themselves forward, to give everybody a fair choice,” Cllr Morrell Phillips said.
His predecessor as group leader, Mason Humberstone, lost his Old Town seat after defecting to the party from Labour.
Cllr Morrell Phillips said: “It’s a shame that he didn’t make it, but he will come back bigger and stronger.
“I’ve learned a hell of a lot from Mason, so I’m very grateful for everything that he’s done for me, but also what he’s done for the Reform party and the Stevenage branch.
“He worked very, very hard during the election, and it was just unfortunate that he didn’t make it.”
Reform UK’s new deputy group leader, Cllr Bainbridge, said he is “honoured to be able to support Liam in his endeavours to hold the borough council to account”.
“My job is to support the leader, which I am happy and pleased to do,” he added.
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