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Reform Councillor Defects to Tories After ‘Seeing Nigel’s Party From the Inside’

  • On July 17, James Buchan, Dartford Borough councillor, won Stone House ward as a Reform UK candidate but has since switched to the Conservative Party.
  • Buchan said he grew uncomfortable with Reform's rhetoric and criticised plans to remove Indefinite Leave to Remain, adding the party lacks experience and ambition to run local services.
  • In recent weeks, a leaked KCC recording led to internal fallout, with five councillors expelled and Reform UK's County Hall seats falling from 57 to 81 since May.
  • On Friday, Cllr Jeremy Kite confirmed and welcomed Buchan to the Tories, with Dartford council now controlled by Conservatives 28, Labour 10, Reform UK 2, Green 1, Independent 1.
  • Regardless of the defection, Reform UK has gained 112 new councillors since May 1, but critics warn its cohesion faces risks before the next general election.
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Evening StandardEvening Standard
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Reform councillor switches to Tories after becoming ‘uncomfortable’ with party

James Buchan accused the party of having ‘a pretty unfortunate way of treating people’.

·London, United Kingdom
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  • 46% of the sources lean Left
46% Left

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Daily Express broke the news in United Kingdom on Friday, October 31, 2025.
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