Reform UK takes Killingworth seat from Labour
Despite the win, Clark said Reform was not a "serious threat" politically in the area."Reform has gained a seat and obviously we would have preferred to hold that seat," Clark told the Local Democracy Reporting Service."It is always difficult when your party is in power. If Reform was a serious threat I would expect them to take both these seats."
Smith said: "This is the beginning for Reform in North Tyneside. "Just on the door steps, talking to people, Reform have been very positively received and people are wanting change."He also said that his first priority as Killingworth's councillor was to get his "head around everything"."I'm not a political-type person," Smith added."I was working in a JD Gym as a cleaner before this. "It's about seeing how things operate - work out our priorities and who we can work with."The turnout for Killingworth was 30.3% compared to 24.7% for Longbenton and Benton.
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