The County Council of Staffordshire met on Thursday 26 March 2026 to appoint a new Leader. Councillor Martin Murray was appointed as the Leader of the Council. The meeting also saw the appointment of Councillor Hayley Coles as the new Deputy Leader.

Appointment of the Leader of the Council

Councillor Martin Murray was appointed as the Leader of Staffordshire County Council. The nomination was proposed and seconded, and with no other nominations put forward, Councillor Murray was elected.

During the discussion, Councillor Alex Farrell, Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Portfolio Holder for Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution, expressed that while he wished Councillor Murray well, his group would not be voting for him. Councillor Farrell highlighted concerns about the utter chaos and rolling scandals that have affected the council, particularly mentioning the Peter Mason scandal and stating that we cannot do so whilst these issues remain. He urged Councillor Murray to address these issues, stating, Your first duty as leader, when you are inevitably elected, should be to remove Councillor Mason as quickly as you can.

Councillor Farrell also raised concerns about council tax increases, stating, You've not carried out your pledge of lowering council taxes. We've raised those by 3.99%. He added that The roads in Staffordshire have never been worse.

Councillor Jill Hood also stated she would not be voting for Councillor Murray, apologising for this and reiterating the call for Councillor Mason's removal. She appealed for a more collaborative approach, saying, I'm really, really hoping that from today, we can all sincerely, all of us, work together.

Councillor Richard Holland, Shadow Portfolio Holder for Economy and Skills, acknowledged the necessity of the meeting but questioned why it was being held so soon after a previous one, citing the cost to the taxpayer, the counter-taxpayer, in time, our time, your time, officer's time, it's just unbelievable. He expressed confidence that there is a leader in there somewhere and hoped Councillor Murray would show the leadership that's required.

Upon his appointment, Councillor Murray thanked everyone for their confidence and expressed his honour and pride in leading the council. He acknowledged the upcoming changes due to Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) and devolution, stating, With the onset of LGR, this has never been as important. And with devolution coming, this gives us great opportunity. It gives Staffordshire a voice, and I hope it brings the great city of Stoke-on-Trent back into the fold and to make this county whole once again, and then we can get on with the job and making Staffordshire the beating heart of our country. He also congratulated Councillor Hayley Coles on her appointment as Deputy Leader.