Reform UK proclaims MORE defections as Nigel Farage welcomes a slew of recent councillors together with an ex-BBC reporter, an Iraqi hostage, and a switcher from the Greens

Reform UK today announced 20 new councillors in England as Nigel Farage welcomed a fresh batch of defectors from other parties.

In a strengthening of its presence in local government, Reform unveiled new recruits across a string of councils.

They included an ex-BBC reporter, a former Iraqi hostage, and even one councillor who has made the surprising switch from Zack Polanski’s left-wing Green Party.

The defectors announced on Wednesday came across Reading, Sevenoaks, Thanet, Horsham, Bolsover, St Helens, Havant, Somerset, Stoke-on-Trent and West Suffolk councils.

They comprised 14 former Conservatives, five independents and one Green.

In Reading, Clarence Mitchell became Reform’s first councillor on the local borough council after quitting as a member of the Conservatives after 16 years.

He is a former newspaper and BBC journalist who went on to work for the Cabinet Office and Department for Health and Social Care as a senior media adviser.

He also had a spell as the official family spokesman for Kate and Gerry McCann during the search for their daughter Madeleine.

Reform UK today announced a slew of new councillors as Nigel Farage welcomed a fresh batch of defectors from other parties

Clarence Mitchell had a spell as the official family spokesman for Kate and Gerry McCann during the search for their daughter Madeleine

Mr Mitchell stood for the Tories in Brighton Pavilion at the 2015 general election but came third in the parliamentary contest behind Labour and the Greens. 

‘Having been a member of the Conservative Party for 16 years, I now believe that Reform UK is the only party that can truly represent and fight for the authentic values that are fundamental to our country’s recovery and its restoration of pride,’ he said.

‘Many voters have lost all faith in our politics, and they feel deeply let down that their concerns are not being listened to such as the cost of living, illegal immigration, the rise of woke-ism and an ever-encroaching level of state interference.’

In Thanet, Barry Manners has joined Reform on the local district council after sitting as an independent since quitting the Tories last May.

He was suspended from the Conservative group after endorsing an independent candidate at a by-election.

Mr Manners said joining Reform was ‘an exciting new chapter for me as a councillor in Thanet’.

‘My outlook has been shaped by difficult experiences earlier in my life, in particular as a hostage in Iraq from BA149, which taught me the importance of resilience, responsibility, and strong leadership, as well as the real consequences when institutions fail to act in the public interest,’ he added.

‘I want to see Thanet – and the country as a whole – thrive through opportunity. Not managed decline.

‘That means backing local businesses, rewarding hard work, and empowering communities to take ownership of their futures and their local environment.’

The 367 passengers and crew of flight BA149 were taken hostage in Kuwait in 1990 at the beginning of Iraq’s invasion of its neighbour.

In Thanet, Barry Manners has joined Reform on the local district council after sitting as an independent since quitting the Tories last May

In St Helens, David Hawley has joined the Reform group on the local borough council after defecting from the Greens.

‘I have passionately worked alongside the local community to better protect the green spaces, improve public transport and engage with local schools,’ he said.

‘However, my views no longer align with my previous party, on a national and local level.

‘I voted for Brexit to take back control of Britain’s borders and lower immigration, yet the government failed to do so.

‘It is time for me to join the party which best represents the views of myself and the people of St Helens in order to action the improvements I have long strived for.

‘I am excited to be joining an expanding team of Reform UK councillors to really tackle the issues many of the residents have previously raised with me.’

Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice said: ‘I’m thrilled to welcome 20 new councillors from across the political spectrum into Reform UK.

‘We have all the momentum in British politics and increasingly people are turning to us as the last, best hope to save this country.’