Election signs for Reform UK.Reform UK has been accused of being “in complete meltdown” after three of the party’s councillors quit its flagship local authority.
They sit on Durham Council, which the party took control of the local elections in May last year after winning 65 of its 98 seats.
At the time, Nigel Farage said he wanted its councillors to demonstrate how a Reform government would run the UK.
But an investigation by Sky News last week revealed accusations of bullying at the council.
At the time, Reform said the reports were “malicious and misleading”.
One of the councillors who has quit, Lyndsey Fox, said: “I’ve been thinking of resigning for some time, and the reason is because I reported a very serious safeguarding issue on July 14, and we’re now two months on and I’ve heard nothing.”
The number of Reform councillors in Durham has fallen from 65 to 51 since last year’s elections, putting their majority at risk.
Across the country, dozens of Reform councillors have either resigned, defected or been kicked out of the party.
Labour chair Bridget Phillipson said: “Reform UK are in complete meltdown as one of their flagship councils has once again been thrown into chaos by resignations and infighting.
“Nigel Farage’s party are up to their neck in sleaze and scandal. From the multiple police probes into Reform’s dodgy finances, to the secret £5 million ‘gift’ from a crypto billionaire – the questions aren’t going away.”
Reform UK have been approached for comment.
Richard Tice, the party’s deputy leader, chose to attack Sky’s Cathy Newman on X.
Clear that @cathynewman of @SkyNews has become an anti Reform activist, no longer a journalist
A formal complaint will be made to Ofcom
The three councillors’ resignations came on the same day that Reform’s leader in Wales stood down after being arrested at the weekend over allegations of assault and coercive controlling behaviour.
Dan Thomas, who said he was standing down “for personal reasons” was released without charge and denies any wrongdoing.
He said he did not want “the coming headlines to be a distraction” from Reform’s work in the Welsh Senedd.
Meanwhile, a Reform member of the Senedd, Sarah Cooper-Lesadd, also announced that she was defecting to rival party Plaid Cymru.
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