Fifteen Conservative Councillors Defect to Reform UK Across Eight Councils

A significant wave of defections from the Conservative Party to Reform UK has occurred, with at least fifteen councillors switching allegiance in a single day across multiple councils in England. Key figures such as Councillor Robbie Lammas of Medway cited dissatisfaction with the Conservative Party's failure to hold local Labour administrations accountable, particularly on issues like asylum seeker policies and the removal of national flags, as reasons for their defection. Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, now boasts over 900 councillors, bolstered by defections and by-election gains, and presents itself as a party committed to integrity, accountability, and delivering radical change. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch defended the party amid these defections, framing them as the shedding of past baggage and dismissing some departures as motivated by election opportunism rather than principle. The defections span several councils including Medway, Gravesham, East Riding of Yorkshire, Rushcliffe, and Bournemouth, signaling a broader challenge for the Conservatives at the local government level. Reform UK views these defections as endorsements of its vision to prioritize British people and deliver meaningful change where the Conservatives have allegedly failed.