02-05-2025
Counting starts for local elections in Derbyshire
Council leader under pressure
Georgia Roberts
Political reporter, BBC Derby
Where I am in North East Derbyshire, lots of eyes will be on the Conservative leader and current leader of the council, Barry Lewis.
He is standing in Shirland and Wingerworth South, and faces a fight on several different fronts.
For one, there's a challenge from a Green candidate who's well-known locally.
The Greens came second last time they contested the ward four years ago, and think they have a good shot this time with less energised support for the Conservatives clearing the way.
But a lot's changed since 2021 – Reform also have their eye on dethroning the leader.
There's a lot of sympathy for the party's national messages on immigration in the area (even though it's one of those issues that technically isn't on the ballot paper).
Finally, a newly formed local independent group is fielding a candidate who's also a familiar face to locals.
Both the Reform and Independent candidates are former Conservative councillors.
It's perhaps a reflection of the tricky spot the Conservatives find themselves in nationally that their leader in Derbyshire faces shedding support in these very different directions.
