Kemi Badenoch received a boost this morning after a Reform UK councillor in Kent announced he is defecting to the Conservative Party. Cllr James Buchan, of the Stone House Ward on Dartford Borough Council, quit Reform UK with immediate effect and will now sit with the Tories on the council as part of the majority group in charge.
His membership was approved last night, with Mr Buchan saying he had become disillusioned with Mr Farage’s party after seeing it “from the inside”. In a statement this lunchtime he explained: “I stood for election with the sole aim of working for my community and getting things done for local families. Having had the opportunity to see Reform from the inside I’ve concluded that the party doesn’t really have the experience or ambition to do that.”
“Repeating the same old rhetoric and whipping-up divisions isn’t going to help real families in communities like Stone and the more I saw of Reform UK, the more uncomfortable I felt to be part of it.
“I looked at friends, family and so many honest, hard-working people in this area and realised that Reform UK has a pretty unfortunate way of treating people.
“ The recent proposal to remove “Indefinite Leave to Remain” from all non EU residents who are working here perfectly legally is an example that could be devastating for good people who have built a life here and contribute to our country. It creates a huge amount of fear and anxiety and I want to be able to look my family in the eye and say ‘that’s not who I am.”
He added that the Tories on the council have made him welcome since approaching them, and he is now “really looking forward to now focusing on the local issues and getting things done for residents in the ward.”
Reform is now left with just two councillors in the borough authority, while the Tories’ numbers rise to 28.
While the news is a blow to Mr Farage it comes on the same day Reform UK celebrated being the first party to win over 50 councillors since the 2025 May local elections.
They defeated Labour in the Roebuck ward on Stevenage Council, winning 39.2% of the vote from a standing start having not stood last time.
Meanwhile Labour crashed by 12.4% coming a distant second.
Mr Farage’s party also took Garlinge ward on Thanet Council from an independent, again securing 44.6% of the vote with a 47 point swing.
Reacting this morning, Mr Farage said: “Reform UK becomes the first party to win 50 local council by-elections since May 1st [hand clapping emoji].”
Since the May local elections earlier this year, Reform has won 51 council by-elections, gaining 43 new seats.
The LibDems are in second with 45 wins, but gaining just 17; while the Tories are in third with 16 wins having lost 17 seats.
Labour have won just 13 by-elections since May, losing a whopping 34 seats they previously held.
