Staffordshire County Council has appointed a new leader – and opposition councillors have called for him to deal with the "scandal" that has affected the authority in recent months.

Cllr Martin Murray, who has been acting leader since December, had his position made permanent at an extraordinary full council meeting on Thursday (26 March).

Former county council leader Ian Cooper was expelled from Reform UK last year after he failed to disclose a social media account and he has faced allegations over racist social media posts.

He now sits as an independent member of the council.

Cllr Chris Large was due to succeed him as the authority's new leader earlier this year, but stood down just days after the announcement, due to a family bereavement.

He previously hit the headlines following allegations that a TikTok account bearing his name made or endorsed racist comments, but he said he had not been personally responsible for the activity, which he condemned, and that a large number of people had access to the account.

Cllr Peter Mason, who remains a member of the Reform UK cabinet, has also hit the headlines for making controversial social media posts about women and black people before he was elected to the authority.

He apologised in November for his "choice of words" on the posts, which were made in 2023 and 2024.

Protestors were present outside County Buildings on Thursday, calling for Cllrs Cooper, Large and Mason to resign and Cllr Mason's position was referred to inside the council chamber during the meeting.

Fellow Reform UK members voted in favour of Cllr Murray's appointment as leader, with deputy leader Hayley Coles nominating him and fellow cabinet member Sean Bagguley seconding the motion.

But the five Conservative members present at Thursday's meeting did not support the move, while Green Party member Jack Rose and Stafford Borough Independent Jill Hood abstained.

Cllr Hood said she hoped all members could sincerely work together following Councillor Murray's appointment.

However, in recent months, full council meetings have seen heated exchanges between members, as well as protesters interrupting proceedings in December, leading to security staff being present in the chamber and members of the press and public being required to use a separate entrance to County Buildings.

Cllr Hood said: "It's the most enormous strain coming to these meetings and wondering what is going to be said, the laughter, the disrespectful clapping.

"Please can we stop it and act like Staffordshire County Cllrs.

"We cannot be united politically, but we can become friends down the road.

"I'm not going to vote for you Cllr Murray and for that I sincerely apologise.

"I believe your first duty when you are elected should be to remove Cllr Mason as quickly as you can.

"I will say good luck for the future and I wish you well."

Conservative members congratulated Cllr Murray on his appointment but they questioned why it did not take place at the previous full council meeting.

Opposition group leader Cllr Philip White said: "I can't say I'm pleased to see you, only two weeks after our last council meeting.

"It's a great shame we've had to go to the time, trouble and expense of holding this meeting today when it could have been dealt with two weeks ago.

"I'm afraid on this side of the chamber we won't be able to vote for you.

"You have been part of the leadership of this council since your election in May, first as deputy leader, then as acting leader of the council since December.

"During that time we have been in utter chaos with rolling scandals.

" You have not done a single thing since December to deal with the scandals that have rocked this council, particularly around racism."

"I heard your interview at the weekend where you said you will come down hard on racists within this council, yet you also said that we need to move on from the Peter Mason scandal.

"I ask you today, how are those two things compatible?

"We would all like to move on in this council, yet we cannot do so whilst these issues remain.

"You have an opportunity to put these things right, so I call on you today to do that."

Cllr Murray said he did not wish to respond to Cllr White's comments "in any way."

Following his appointment, he thanked members for their "huge vote of confidence" in him and the work they had been doing in their communities.

He added: "I am truly honoured to lead this county council in these amazing chambers.

"I am very proud but also slightly sad that I will be the last leader of this county council (before it is replaced by a new unitary authority system in 2028).

"Today is not only about leadership, it's about stability and getting the job done.

"It is about working together, not only as a group but as a county and as a country.

"At the onset of LGR (local government reorganisation), this has never been more 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 this county, to make this county whole once again.

"Then we can get on with the job, making Staffordshire the beating heart of our country.

"I thank you all once again for putting your faith in me – now let's get on with the job."