Worcestershire witnessed a political earthquake in 2025 as Reform UK ended twenty years of Conservative dominance to take minority control of the county council. The dramatic shift set the stage for major decisions on local government restructuring and financial survival.
A Year of Political Upheaval and Financial Crisis
The year began with a stark warning: Worcestershire County Council would effectively face bankruptcy without exceptional financial support from the Government. The authority planned a 4.99% council tax hike and considered selling County Hall to balance its books. Then-Conservative leader Simon Geraghty sought to delay the May elections to fast-track a plan for a single 'One Worcestershire' unitary authority, a move that sparked opposition.
By February, the financial strain was widespread. Worcester City Council agreed to raise its council tax precept by 1.7%. County councillors, meanwhile, used government support to plug a £33.6 million budget shortfall. The debate over restructuring intensified, with city councillors backing a two-unitary model for north and south Worcestershire, contrary to the county's single authority proposal.
The Road to a Historic Election Victory
Political manoeuvring escalated ahead of the May local elections. Reform UK vowed to contest every constituency in Worcestershire. In a significant blow to the Tories, former loyalist councillor Alan Amos defected to Reform in April, citing an "unexpected" approach from the party. Conservative heavyweight Marc Bayliss announced he would not seek re-election due to health concerns.
Polling day delivered a seismic result. Reform UK won 27 of the council's 57 seats, falling just two short of an outright majority but enough for minority control. Veteran Tory leader Simon Geraghty lost his seat to Green candidate Tor Pingree, and environment chief Emma Stokes was defeated by Reform's Michele Hulme. Reform's Jo Monk became the new council leader, marking a definitive end to two decades of Conservative rule.
New Leadership and Ongoing Challenges
The new administration faced immediate tests. Its first cabinet meeting lasted a mere 20 minutes. The council revealed it was abandoning plans for a new secondary school in Worcester, and a Freedom of Information request showed a vacant County Hall had cost taxpayers over £2 million in twelve months. The authority also received its sixth consecutive annual warning over its complaints handling.
Financial pressures remained severe. Data showed Worcestershire's seven councils carried a combined debt of £750 million. By December, the county council was seeking government permission to raise council tax by over 5% and requested exceptional financial support for a second year running. The political landscape continued to shift with by-election gains and resignations, including Reform councillor Gaynor Jean-Louis stepping down for health reasons.
The battle over local government restructuring culminated in November with two competing proposals submitted to the government: one for a single Worcestershire unitary authority and an alternative for two councils covering the north and south of the county. As the year closed, the political and financial future of Worcestershire hung in the balance, shaped by a historic election and profound ongoing challenges.
