Dozens of councillors have left Reform UK over the past year, highlighting a challenge for the party as it struggles to retain representatives despite overall growth. Since last May's local elections, when Nigel Farage heralded a surge in council seats, nearly 70 councillors have departed through defections, resignations, or suspensions.
Reform UK's rise and fall
In May 2025, Reform UK won 677 council seats, positioning itself as a major force against Labour and Conservatives. However, internal issues soon emerged. Donna Edmunds, a councillor in Shropshire, was suspended days after the election over a social media post urging short-term support for the party. Other early departures included Warwickshire councillor Luke Shingler, who became an Independent due to his undisclosed work, and Nottinghamshire councillor Desmond Clarke, who resigned after nine days citing personal reasons. In Durham, Andrew Kilburn resigned after failing to declare his council job, and in Kent, Daniel Taylor was suspended and later jailed for coercive behaviour.
Kent County Council: a flagship in crisis
Kent County Council, where Reform won 57 of 81 seats, has seen the most departures, with 10 councillors leaving. The council faces a £700m debt and a daily £84k interest bill. Leader Linden Kemkaran has faced pressure, and a leaked video showed her swearing at members. The first to leave was Amelia Randall, who moved to UKIP and then Independent, stating Reform had lost its identity and become 'Tory 2.0'.
Discontent across the country
In Durham, Independent councillor Nick Brown left in February, criticising the party line for stifling local issues. He said, 'We all turned into Nigel’s yes-men – ordered to be on best behaviour to help him get to power.' He resigned after being told to vote for a 3.1% council tax rise. In Worcestershire, David Taylor quit on air over a 9% council tax hike. In Doncaster, Nickie Brown left after being asked to back a £57m loan for Doncaster Sheffield Airport without full facts; Reform later withdrew support. In Cornwall, leader Rob Parsonage resigned in November, citing pressure from members and HQ to deliver change. He later joined the Conservatives. In Warwickshire, young leader George Finch survived a no-confidence vote by one vote, while councillors Luke Cooper and Scott Cameron defected to Restore Britain, criticising Reform's backtracking on immigration and hiring of former Tories.
North Northamptonshire and broader trends
In North Northamptonshire, councillors Darren Rance and Jack Goncalvez left for Restore Britain, with Goncalvez accusing Reform of 'courting the very establishment it claims to oppose' after a shadow cabinet announcement. Many departing councillors have joined Restore Britain, Advance UK, or the Conservatives. Despite the losses, Reform UK has grown from 810 to 991 councillors since May 2025, a 22% increase. However, the 68 lost represent 9% of the original count. A Reform UK spokesman noted that churn is normal, pointing to Labour and Tory losses of 259 and 230 respectively, and highlighted £700m in efficiency savings and the lowest average council tax among parties.
