Reform UK has significantly bolstered its ranks in local government, announcing a wave of new councillors who have defected from rival parties. The party's honorary president, Nigel Farage, welcomed the fresh intake, which includes a former BBC reporter, an ex-hostage, and a surprising switch from the left-wing Greens.
A Broad Geographic Spread of New Recruits
The defections, announced on Wednesday, span councils across England, marking a concerted effort to build a nationwide presence at the grassroots level. The new Reform councillors now sit on authorities in Reading, Sevenoaks, Thanet, Horsham, Bolsover, St Helens, Havant, Somerset, Stoke-on-Trent and West Suffolk.
In a notable move for the party, Clarence Mitchell became Reform's first representative on Reading Borough Council. He resigned from the Conservative Party after 16 years of membership. Mr Mitchell is a former newspaper and BBC journalist who later served as a senior media adviser in the Cabinet Office and the Department for Health and Social Care. He is also known for his role as the official spokesman for Kate and Gerry McCann during the search for their missing daughter, Madeleine.
Explaining his defection, Mr Mitchell stated he now believes Reform UK is the only party that can champion the values needed for the country's recovery. "Many voters have lost all faith in our politics," he said, "and they feel deeply let down that their concerns are not being listened to such as the cost of living, illegal immigration, the rise of woke-ism and an ever-encroaching level of state interference."
From Hostage Experience to Political Resilience
Another significant defection occurred in Thanet, where Barry Manners joined Reform on the district council. He had been sitting as an independent after quitting the Conservatives last May, following a suspension for endorsing an independent candidate.
Mr Manners cited his harrowing personal experiences as a formative influence on his political outlook. He was a passenger on British Airways flight BA149, which was seized in Kuwait in 1990 at the start of Iraq's invasion. The 367 passengers and crew were taken hostage. "My outlook has been shaped by difficult experiences earlier in my life, in particular as a hostage in Iraq," he said. "[It] taught me the importance of resilience, responsibility, and strong leadership, as well as the real consequences when institutions fail to act in the public interest." He expressed a desire to see Thanet and the UK thrive through opportunity, not "managed decline."
Green Party Councillor Makes Surprising Switch
In a move highlighting Reform's cross-party appeal, David Hawley in St Helens defected from the Green Party to join the Reform group on the borough council. Mr Hawley said he had passionately worked on local issues like protecting green spaces and improving transport but found his views no longer aligned with his former party.
"I voted for Brexit to take back control of Britain's borders and lower immigration, yet the government failed to do so," he explained. "It is time for me to join the party which best represents the views of myself and the people of St Helens." He added that he was excited to join an expanding team of Reform councillors to tackle the issues residents care about.
This coordinated series of defections represents a clear strategic push by Reform UK to establish a tangible foothold in local government across the country. By attracting figures with diverse backgrounds and from across the political spectrum, the party aims to present itself as a growing force capable of challenging the established political order from the ground up.
