Martin Murray has confirmed he is stepping down as leader of Staffordshire County Council and as head of its Reform UK group. He was formally elected to the role in March, making his tenure just seven months long.
A fourth leader since December
Murray's resignation is the third leadership change at county hall since December 2025. Ian Cooper and Chris Large both departed before him. Deputy leader Hayley Coles has been chosen as Reform's fourth group leader and will serve as acting leader of the council until a formal confirmation, expected some time in December.
I am proud to have been trusted to lead our Reform administration and Staffordshire County Council into this new chapter. My priority is to drive forward the mandate our residents voted for and deliver the change the county so desperately needs.
Murray described the decision as difficult, but said the interests of Staffordshire had to come first. He highlighted work on attracting investment to the county and raising the profile of its tourism, leisure & hospitality sectors as points of pride from his time in the role.
It has been a privilege to serve the people of Staffordshire and to work alongside dedicated councillors, officers, businesses, community organisations and residents. While my time as leader has come to an end, my commitment to Staffordshire and the people of Cannock remains unchanged.
He will continue as a Reform councillor for Cannock Town.
Opposition voices concern
Not everyone has taken a measured view of the situation. Newcastle-under-Lyme Labour MP Adam Jogee was pointed in his response.
Rather than leading with competence, getting a grip and making things work, all we get is chaos and division from those in charge at Staffordshire County Council. The people of Newcastle-under-Lyme deserve so much better than this.
For Gnosall residents, the county council oversees services that touch daily life directly, from road maintenance and transport to social care and planning. Continued leadership instability at county hall raises reasonable questions about continuity and decision-making on those priorities. How Coles settles into the role over the coming weeks will be worth watching.
Source: bbc.co.uk
Photo: Staffordshire County Council
