The party has said it intends to nominate candidates for all 84 seats on Norfolk County Council and the 13 available wards on Norwich City Council, when voters head to the polls on May 7.

The announcement comes as Conservative leader Kay Mason Billig faces mounting pressure over her extraordinary attack on local government secretary Steve Reed, made on Tuesday.

Norfolk County Council leader Kay Mason Billig (Image: Denise Bradley)

Addressing County Hall, Ms Mason Billig called Mr Reed a "two-faced bully" and a "bastard" and announced she would be pulling the county out of the Labour government's flagship devolution process.

David Bick, currently Reform's sole county councillor and the party's Norfolk and Suffolk mayoral candidate, criticised both Ms Mason Billig and Mr Reed.

He said: "Cllr Billig's revelations are devastating for the government. Steve Reed bullied councils into illegally cancelling democracy for millions. His position is now completely untenable.

"The Conservatives are no better. Cllr Billig and her party leapt at the chance to scrap elections just to cling to their own seats. Norfolk voters will have their say on her anti-democratic administration on May 7th."

David Bick, Reform UK's candidate to be Norfolk and Suffolk mayor (Image: Reform UK)

His comments come after a legal challenge from Reform forced the government into a dramatic U-turn on Monday, scrapping plans to postpone elections in 30 areas - including Norfolk - and instead saying they would go ahead. 

Political analysts have tipped Reform for major gains in May, with some suggesting the party could seize control from Ms Mason Billig's current Conservative majority in Norfolk.

During the last County Hall elections in 2021, Reform was in its infancy having been founded in January the same year. 

Fred Pidcock won a seat on West Norfolk Council by-election last year (Image: West Norfolk council)

Breckland councillor Robin Hunter-Clarke defected to Reform UK last year (Image: Reform UK)

It stood just three candidates, winning none.

However, the party has steadily risen in popularity since, picking up several seats in by-elections across the region. 

COULD REFORM HOLD THE KEY’S TO NORFOLK’S DEVOLUTION FUTURE?

Reform's lofty ambitions for the May elections could prove pivotal in determining whether Norfolk secures devolved powers and funding worth more than £1 billion over the next three decades.

If the party performs strongly in May, which many are predicting, and emerges as a majority power at County Hall, it could effectively decide whether the region gets a long-awaited mayor.

The government currently requires consent from both Norfolk and Suffolk before the region can hold mayoral elections. 

This would mean the majority party could refuse the mayoral deal and cause the plans to fall flat.

Housing, communities and local government secretary Steve Reed (Image: Aaron Chown)

However, Reform has said a mayor could be beneficial as it would secure the region £37m a year for the next three decades from the government's devolution programme. 

The only current threat to this sovereignty is Labour's English Devolution Bill, currently making its way through Parliament.

As part of the new bill, the secretary of state will get a series of new powers which could reduce council's power to resist.

Unlike the introduction of a mayor, local government reform now lies solely in the hands of the government.

The scheme, which will see Norfolk’s district councils absorbed into a unitary model, has been the subject of years of debate and preparation.

In January, Norfolk’s authorities submitted their responses over whether the future structure should be one, two or three larger councils following a consultation. 

Following the council's submissions, it will be up to Mr Reed and the government to draft up a final plan for Norfolk before it is subject to Parliamentary approval.

© Eastern Daily Press