Four members of an independent group have defected to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, fearing the country is “heading for a Labour-run dictatorship.”
Swale Borough Council (SBC) now hosts five councillors from the right-wing party, but their former independent colleagues have slated the move as a “betrayal” of their voters.
The party’s Sittingbourne and Sheppey branch announced on Facebook that Cllrs Richard Palmer, Christine Palmer, Lloyd Chapman and Peter MacDonald had joined Reform UK on February 7.
They join Cllr Kieran Mishchuk, who was elected to the council in the Milton Regis by-election in December, to form the five-strong Reform UK group on the council.
In a statement on behalf of the four, they write: “We feel that democracy will soon be a distant memory, and we are heading for a Labour-run dictatorship.
“Nobody is listening to the people in our communities. We need common sense applied to our politics and policies that will advance the UK to a better and brighter future for the next generations.
“The only Party that offers a workable alternative that will see the investment that will make our country great again is Reform UK.”
Cllr Mike Baldock (Swale Ind.), is the leader of the Swale Independents, said: “I think it’s a huge betrayal of the people who voted for them.
“People voted for independent candidates free from national party influence, so they’ve rejected what their residents voted for, which I think further undermines people’s trust in politicians.
“I can understand a lot of people are so frustrated with the main two parties they’re looking for something different – the Starmer government is appalling that it’s pushing people towards Reform, but Reform’s economic policies are not what the public want.”
The Borden and Grove Park representative added that he thinks the defectors should resign and fight new by-elections as Reform candidates to renew their mandates.
“I can understand if people go from a party to independent, because you’re moving to represent your residents, but if you move from independent to a national party that does seem to fly in the face of what you promised your residents to get elected.
“I found out after they had informed the chief executive at Swale – they didn’t have the decency to speak to any of the other members of the group, I think that says a lot.
“It’s always hard being an independent and sometimes it’s easier to run off and join a national party to have it a bit easier.”
Cllr Baldock and Cllr Richard Palmer were both former members of Ukip.
Cllr Palmer, who was also chairman of Sittingbourne and Sheppey Ukip, said: “I didn’t take this decision lightly.
“I agree with what Mike says, it’s awkward jumping ship, – he’s done it three or four times himself – but sometimes you have to.”
Cllr Palmer continued: “People are totally and utterly fed up with politicians who do not listen to their views.
“I think if Reform form the next government they’ll make a big difference, – at a local level if they get candidates elected you’ll start to see a real difference.
“The times they are a changing.”
Swale council is run on a committee system rather than a cabinet one, where decisions on policy matters are made by committees politically-balanced to reflect the overall composition of the council.
As such, SBC’s committees will need to be re-worked to reflect the new political balance.
The political balance on Swale Borough Council is now as follows:
Labour – 15
Conservatives – 10
Swale Independents – 8
Reform UK – 5
Liberal Democrats – 5
Green – 3
Independent – 1
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