Home · Politics · Sep 8 archive
Councillor becomes first politician in the country to defect from Reform to Labour
Developing
In Short: A Lancashire county councillor has become the first politician in Britain to defect from Reform UK to Labour.
However, the news was met with enthusiasm by the Labour group at the authority. Councillor Mark Clifford declared, 'news of the defection – which takes the Labour group at the authority to six – is fantastic news,' as quoted by The Independent. This move strengthens Labour's position in the county council.
Ashley Dalton, MP for West Lancashire, expressed delight at the defection, saying, 'we are really, really proud to actually get Nigel Swales to leave Reform and come to Labour, it's brilliant news and this is just going to be the start of many more,' according to The Independent. Dalton's statement highlights the potential for further defections from Reform to Labour.
Nigel Swales, who represents Skelmersdale East on Lancashire County Council, had previously been a member of the Labour Party but never in an active role. His defection is significant as it is the first such move from Reform to Labour, despite several councillors and MPs having quit Reform or defected to the Conservatives and vice versa.
What's confirmed
What's still developing
- A Reform councillor has decided to leave the party, saying he had seen ‘first-hand’ how it ‘simply doesn't have a serious plan’ A Reform councillor has decided to leave the party, saying he had seen ‘first-hand’ how it ‘simply doesn't have a serious plan’ A Lancashire county councillor has become the first politician in Britain to defect from Reform UK to Labour, citing "growing concerns about Reform's ability to deliver at a local level ”.
- Reform UK said voters "will rightly be feeling betrayed and disappointed that they have woken up with yet another Labour councillor today”.
Sources
- The Independentlink