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Reform has lost more councillors in five months than any other party. They explain why
Reform UK has lost 41 councillors since June, more than any other major party, as resignations, suspensions and defections expose strains in its local organisation. The departures come after the party’s strong showing in May’s local elections and amid falling poll support, raising concerns about its ability to hold control on some councils.
Open Council Data UK puts Reform’s tally at 2,301, down from 2,342; Labour lost 35 councillors, while the Conservatives gained 13. In Durham, several councillors left Reform, and a further resignation left the party with 50 of 98 seats. Some former councillors cite concerns including safeguarding and the party’s handling of internal issues, while Reform disputes comparisons that begin only in June.
In short
- Reform has lost 41 councillors since June.
- Labour lost 35; the Conservatives gained 13.
- Durham’s Reform group is down to 50 of 98 seats.
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The case for
The departures may point to real strains in Reform’s local organisation: losing 41 councillors in five months, including defections and resignations, could make it harder to govern councils and retain public confidence. Former councillors’ concerns about safeguarding and internal handling deserve scrutiny, particularly after the party’s strong local election showing raised expectations.
The case against
The figures do not by themselves establish a party-wide crisis: councillor departures can have varied local causes, and Reform disputes the comparison period used to rank its losses. A strong election result can also leave a party managing rapid growth and newly formed local groups, so the numbers need context before being treated as evidence of lasting organisational weakness.