Two Plymouth City Councillors have left Reform UK and joined Restore Britain, according to party leader Rupert Lowe.
Councillors Mark Hadfield, who represents St Budeaux, and Andrew Crumplin, who represents Moor View, were elected for Reform UK at May’s Plymouth City Council elections.
Announcing the move on Facebook, Mr Lowe said: “Pleased to welcome two Plymouth councillors to Restore Britain today from Reform we are rapidly building our presence in the South West. Welcome to the team, gents. With more being vetted across Britain.”
He added: “Patriotic councillors, get in touch.”
The defections come against the backdrop of changes within the Plymouth Reform group, with both Hadfield and Crumplin absent from the party’s new shadow cabinet announced by group leader Councillor Steve Ricketts.
There have also been claims that Hadfield had sought to challenge for the leadership of the Plymouth Reform group, although this has not been publicly confirmed.
The move would give Restore Britain an elected presence in Plymouth while reducing Reform UK’s representation in the city.
There are also rumours that another Plymouth councillor could be considering leaving Reform UK. There has been no official confirmation of a further defection, however, and no councillor has publicly been identified as preparing to leave.
The changes come as Rupert Lowe seeks to build Restore Britain as a new political force, with the party increasingly seeking to attract elected representatives from across the country.
For Plymouth, the arrival of two councillors from Reform UK represents a significant development only months after Reform made major gains at the local elections.
It also leaves the political landscape on the city council facing further uncertainty, with the possibility of more movement between political groups.
Hadfield has now personally confirmed the move in a message to constituents, saying he had taken the decision after “careful consideration”. He said he had no issues with Reform UK nationally, but that developments at a local and regional level had caused him concern. Hadfield said his political convictions and his view of how his public service should develop had led him to join Restore Britain, while stressing that his priority remained representing the people of St Budeaux. He also acknowledged that some of the 1,627 people who voted for him may disagree with the decision and said he hoped to win re-election next May.
Crumplin has also now confirmed his decision in a statement to residents of Moor View. He said his decision had been influenced by what he described as “a large influence of Ex-Conservatives driving things behind the scenes”, claiming that councillors’ wishes and views had sometimes been ignored. Crumplin said he had decided to join Restore Britain because he wanted to remain true to his principles, while stressing that his commitment to representing the people of Moor View had not changed. He said: “Being a councillor is about more than a political label. It is about being available, listening, standing up for your community and getting things done wherever possible.”
Photographs © Wayne Perry / Plymouth Post