THE leader of the Liberal Democrats on Devon County Council has called for councillors to work together without a formal coalition after no party secured a majority at the local elections.

A political earthquake saw the Conservatives’ majority wiped out, Labour lose all its seats and the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK make huge gains.

The biggest party at Devon County Council is now the Liberal Democrats with 27 councillors, four short of the 31 seats needed to wield control.

The next largest is Reform UK with 18 councillors, followed by the Conservatives with seven and the Greens with six. There are also two independent councillors.

But instead of a speculated coalition with the Greens, the Lib Dems have called for “a new way of doing politics” based on compromise.

“The mood music I’m getting from our group is that we don’t want a formal sharing agreement among parties, and I support that,” the new leader of the Lib Dem group Cllr Julian Brazil (Kingsbridge) said.

“It’s a much more mature and developed way of doing things. If we have compromise among 60 members we will make better decisions for the council.

“Children in Devon have been failed for too long, we have got to get that right, and potholes affect us all, we need to find a better way to repair roads but for less.”

The leaders of the other three political groups on the council have welcomed Cllr Brazil’s comments.

Cllr Michael Fife Cook, speaking on behalf of the Reform UK group, said: “I don’t see us as opposition.

“We have been elected, and people will expect us to work together for the good of the county.

“We can’t force through change, it will have to be by compromise, but good ideas can come from anywhere and that’s how we have a constructive council.”

Cllr Jacqi Hodgson, leader of the Green and independent group, said: “We are delighted that our group of Green councillors has grown to six and we expect to have the opportunity to drive a stronger greener agenda through cooperation with fellow councillors from all parties and independents.”

Cllr Andrew Leadbetter, leader of the Conservative group, said: “I welcome the comments made by Councillor Brazil, after all, we have been elected to put the interests of the residents of Devon first and to make a difference to people's lives.

“If we can all work together for the good of Devon that has to be a good thing. Rural counties like Devon face unique issues that need to be recognised nationally, and we must all work together to ensure we receive adequate funding to address them.”

Councillors will decide who becomes leader and deputy leader, cabinet and committee appointments and who becomes chairman and vice chairman when they meet on Thursday, May 22.

Members of other parties hold cabinet posts at South Hams District Council, where Cllr Brazil is leader, but it is not certain if this will be the case at Devon County Council.