Reform UK to make Birmingham announcement after becoming council’s largest party

A spokesman said they would be announcing a leader in the next 24 hours

15:51, 11 May 2026Updated 16:53, 11 May 2026

(Image: Jacob King/PA Wire)

Reform UK is set to name its Birmingham group leader with 24 hours after emerging as the largest block on the city council.

It won 22 of the total 101 seats voted on last week, with two still to be declared as of Monday afternoon, May 11.

The Greens were second with 19, Labour had 17, Tories 16 and the Liberal Democrats 12, with 13 independents.

READ MORE: Reform pledge review of Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone as they blast ‘net zero nonsense’

Now Reform must name its city boss with horse-trading between the parties to see which coalition will emerge with control. No one party did enough to claim outright victory last week and not even an alliance of two parties will be enough to take power.

Asked about the leadership role or possible alliances, a Reform spokesman said: “We will have a group leader within the next 24 hours who will make our position clear.”

One hotly-tipped contender for the top role is Kingstanding’s Jex Parkin who said the party would waste no time in taking “action” against Birmingham’s pay-as-you-drive Clean Air Zone for older and more highly-polluting vehicles.

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Dr Jason Lowther, director of the Institute of Local Government Studies at the University of Birmingham said: “I’m not aware of coalitions involving Reform UK at present in English councils.

“In most cases they govern with a simple majority and in three cases they run councils as the largest party but without a majority.

“In Cornwall, although Reform are the largest party, the council is run by the Liberal Democrats with independent councillors.

“The Green Party is the largest party with minority control in a few councils, and is part of several coalitions, mainly with Lib Dems but sometimes with Labour.”