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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
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Jason Okundaye

To understand Britain’s new politics, look no further than this Shakespearean saga in Worcestershire

Illustration by Matt Kenyon of politicians discussing, arguing and misbehaving over rainbow coloured pie chart table.

If you want a window into how a fragmented nation and a splintered party system are reshaping British politics, look no further than the drama at Worcestershire county council. It shows the consequences of Britain governing like a two-party state, when it now votes like a multiparty democracy.

Last week, opposition councillors from the Conservatives, Greens, Liberal Democrats and a group of independents formed a rainbow coalition to remove Reform UK from power. Nigel Farage’s party had gained control of the council in last year’s local elections, winning a plurality of seats but not a majority. What has unfolded since then has been chaos.

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