Council leader's dramatic defection to Reform UK shows where real battle will be in May

PLUS: Strong opposition to PIP cuts announced yesterday by government

Hello and welcome to The Lancashire Lead.

It has not been a quiet week so far in the world of Lancashire politics.

Defections to Reform UK were probably to be expected. Local councillors prioritise little more than their own seat and you sometimes have to squint to see the difference between Reform and Tories in particular.

But Stephen Atkinson’s defectio…