County Cllr Stephen Atkinson spoke to reporters after being chosen to lead the new ruling group on the authority.
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00:00Well, we've just had the meeting of the Reform UK group at Lancashire County Council and what an amazing meeting, what amazing people.
00:09We're really going to make a difference to Lancashire. I'm fortunate enough to have the honour to be elected leader
00:14and we have a mission to deliver for the people of Lancashire, to work with the officers and to put people front and centre of all of our decision making.
00:24We think that Lancashire will become an exemplar council for the whole of the country and the work starts today. Thank you.
00:32Thanks, Councillor Atkinson. What's top of your to-do list?
00:35Well, as I said at the debate, we need to have a deep dive into the budget.
00:40We need to make sure that those savings to deliver a balanced budget are happening and I've got the Chief Executive working on that as we speak.
00:48Many people will have voted for your party because of the promises made at a national level.
00:54So, for example, the council accepting no more migrants or asylum seekers and trying to put a stop to any more green energy projects.
01:03Will you be able to deliver on those promises?
01:07Yes, I think we can. We've got national policy that you're all aware of, but we will be considered in our approach.
01:15Nigel Farage will not be reckless, but we have a clear focus to deliver on those issues.
01:20The British people are fed up. They've been put to the back of the queue for too long and this is a chance to make a difference.
01:28And then what will happen in 2029, Nigel Farage will make a much bigger difference.
01:33What policies around asylum seekers and asylum seeker hotels are you looking to change?
01:38Well, within a two-tier area, housing is the responsibility of the district councils, so we wouldn't have the influence there.
01:48But we do have a relationship with the Home Office and we need to make it clear to them that the residents of Lancashire did not vote for asylum seekers to come here.
01:57So, will you be moving asylum seekers away or putting a moratorium on more asylum seekers arriving?
02:05I think Zia has been really clear. We want to check the legal basis of these changes of use in hotels and some accommodation to see if it is being done legally.
02:18And this last question now, please.
02:20Does some staff here at County Hall have to worry about their jobs?
02:25What we will do, staff know what our policies are. We will follow process. We will be respectful. We will be dignified.
02:33But we have an electoral mandate to deliver what we said we would do. And that's what's gone wrong in this country.
02:39Too many political parties have actually said they're going to do something, got elected, then not done it.
02:45Just one final one. You were leader of Ribble Valley Borough Council, this time two months ago conservative leader of Ribble Valley.
02:52Now you're the reform leader of County Hall. You couldn't have predicted that, could you? Do you really want this job?
02:57I really want this job because I love my country like all these people do.
03:01This is the start of rebuilding Britain.
03:04This is the start of rebuilding Britain.