OrganisationGB

Plymouth City Council

Plymouth's unitary authority, under Labour majority control since 2023.

Plymouth City Council has been under Labour majority control since 2023, with Reform UK holding a minority opposition group led by Steve Ricketts, whose deputy leader Carol Ney resigned on 7 August 2026.

Last refreshed: 12 August 2026

Key Question

Who actually controls Plymouth City Council while its Reform group implodes?

Timeline for Plymouth City Council

#15 7 Aug

Hosted the Reform group's public split

UK Local Elections 2026: Carol Ney quits Reform over a post

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Background

Plymouth City Council is the unitary authority for the city of Plymouth in Devon. Labour has held majority control since 2023, and the council meets at the Council House in the city centre.

Reform UK is not the governing party here: its group on the council is a minority opposition bloc, led by Steve Ricketts, sitting alongside Labour's majority rather than running the authority. Coverage that describes Plymouth as Reform-run is describing the wrong council.

Common Questions

Who controls Plymouth City Council?

Plymouth City Council has been under Labour majority control since 2023; Reform UK holds a minority councillor group.Source: Wikipedia

What happened to Plymouth's Reform UK councillor group in August 2026?

Deputy leader Carol Ney resigned from Reform UK on 7 August 2026 after a dispute over a colleague's Facebook post.Source:

Source Material

Plymouth City Council Plymouth City Council