US EditionPublished • loading... • Updated
Twenty Tory councillors defect to Reform this morning
The defections increase Reform UK's councillors to over 900, reflecting growing support amid concerns about Conservative Party leadership and policy direction.
- Reform UK announced this morning, October 7, that Emma Elliott, Aaron Elliott, Gary Harding and David Beattie defected from the Conservative Party to join the party.
- Electoral gains in May showed Reform UK secured 677 seats and took control of several former Tory councils, while Kemi Badenoch said the party is 'shedding a lot of the baggage of the last 14 years' as voters protested.
- In Hertsmere, Councillor Caroline Clapper and Councillor Brett Rosehill left the Conservatives to join Reform UK, while Lymington councillor Barry Dunning called his defection a 'freedom day' citing funding cuts and service failures.
- A Tory source argued Kemi Badenoch's response made the Conservatives 'sound like a protest party', while Karl Arthur's departure narrowed North Yorkshire Council's Tory majority to one and Hertsmere Borough Council gained two Reform councillors.
- Reform's May victory in Kent showed its strength, winning 57 of the 81 seats, while Danny Kruger, East Wiltshire MP, joined last month and the party says defections will continue.
Insights by Ground AI
37 Articles
37 Articles
Reform just scooped up 20 Tory councillors - and it's a disaster for all of us
In one morning, twenty Tory councillors have defected to Reform during the third day of the Conservative Party conference. It seems its attempts to appease the far-right are causing it to sink faster than the Titanic. I was under the impression that Reform were against ‘immigrants’ coming over and taking all their jobs. https://t.co/0J4chTY5BM — Sparky (@PaulSparks1964) October 7, 2025 Reform vs Tories At this point, the only difference between…
·United Kingdom
Read Full Article
The Northern EchoReposted by 
darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk
darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.ukConservative councillor defects to Reform UK declaring: 'Conservative Party over.'
A North Yorkshire councillor has defected to Reform, declaring the Conservative Party “over”.
·County Durham, United Kingdom
Read Full Article
Coverage Details
Total News Sources37
Leaning Left4Leaning Right6Center16Last UpdatedBias Distribution62% Center
Bias Distribution
- 62% of the sources are Center
62% Center
15%
C 62%
R 23%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
