The Government has hit back at the leader of Norfolk County Council after she sensationally withdrew the authority from the devolution process, accusing her of ‘vile abuse’ and ‘false accusations’. Kay Mason Bilig, Conservative leader, has been criticised following her extraordinary speech on Tuesday where she branded local government secretary Steve Reed a ‘two-faced bully’ and a ‘bastard’. Norfolk County Council County HallMs Mason Billig claimed he had earlier ‘threatened’ to restrict the county’s access to funding and to withhold certain powers from the proposed devolved authorities unless she agreed to support a delay in the elections. A source at the department said: “It’s both baffling and shocking that a council leader would launch such vile abuse and totally false accusations at a Secretary of State she has, by her own admission, never met or spoken to. She called on district councils to support her decision, which the Tory leaders of South Norfolk and Great Yarmouth have since done.

Source: Express February 19, 2026 10:19 UTC