Two Conwy Councillors in Wales defect to Reform UK
Cllr Thomas Montgomery and Cllr Louise Emery, both councillors in Conwy, have announced their resignation from the Conservative Party to join Reform UK.
The announcement follows yesterday's news that former Conservative Member of the Senedd Laura Anne Jones had also joined Reform UK.
A string of councillors in Merthyr Tydfil also announced their own defections in June.
Who else has joined Reform UK in Wales?
Reform remains without a leader in Wales, however a number of councillors and politicians in the country have now announced that they have joined the party.
Stuart Keyte was Wales' first elected Reform UK councillor in February this year. He won the Trevethin and Penygarn seat on Labour-dominated Torfaen council.
David Thomas, Jason O'Connell, and Alan Slade are also Reform UK councillors, representing the Llantarnam ward in Torfaen.
In March, four councillors from Powys joined the party.
Cllr Geoff Morgan, Ithon Valley Ward, Cllr Claire Jonson-Wood, Llanyre with Nantmel Ward, who were both formerly Independent councillors, joined the party.
Cllr Iain McIntosh, Yscir with Honddu Isaf and Llanddew ward and Cllr Karl Lewis, Llandinam with Dolfor Ward, both formerly Conservative, also joined Reform UK.
Owain Clatworthy won a seat on a second Welsh council following a by-election in May for the Pyle, Kenfig Hill and Cefn Cribwr ward in Bridgend.
Cllr Thomas Montgomery, Cllr Louise Emery, and Member of the Senedd Laura Anne Jones have all announced that they have joined Reform UK this week.
David Jones, former Conservative MP for Clwyd West and Welsh Secretary, also announced he had joined Reform UK earlier this month.
Andrew Barry and David Hughes were both Independent councillors for Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council they before defected to Reform UK, announced in a speech by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage in Port Talbot last month.
It takes the number of Reform councillors in Wales to 13.
As Wales prepares for the Senedd Election next year, a recent ITV Cymru Wales poll showed a large surge in support for Reform, which took 25% of the vote share.
That would make them the second-largest party in Wales, behind Plaid Cymru, at 30%.
In a press release from Reform UK, Cllr Thomas Montgomery said he and Cllr Emery had "joined the tens of thousands of people across our country who realise that the big two parties have failed to deliver the change we need."He continued: "Our politics and our country are broken. We need a party with vision, passion, and policies that deliver for working people and small businesses up and down Wales and the United Kingdom."That is why we are backing Reform – to see a Government cut taxes for working people, support our high streets, deliver smart immigration policies, cut Government waste, and so much more."Whilst we are saddened to be leaving behind incredible friends and colleagues in the Welsh Conservative Party, we cannot stand by any longer. Our communities, our County, and our Country need Reform."
Cllr Louise Emery said: "Today I am joining Reform UK because they have a manifesto of common-sense policies – the only way to set this country back on course and ensure local and national government work as they should: for the taxpayer."Reform UK will deliver policies such as a single funding stream for social care, a new Education Curriculum in Wales with better funding for Pupil Referral Units, a line-by-line review of council spending, incentives for work over benefits, support for entrepreneurs, scrapping net zero and energy tax subsidies, and smart – not mass – migration with proper border control."The Conservative Group on the Council are great people who work hard for their residents, and I want to thank them for all their support over the years."This is an exciting new chapter for me, to represent my residents and be part of Reform UK, a party that will deliver change at local government level, in the Senedd, and in Westminster."
A spokesperson from Reform added: "Their decision to join Reform UK Wales reflects a growing movement for real change and common-sense politics across Wales."Both Councillors will continue to represent their wards in Conwy, working tirelessly for local residents and fighting for policies that deliver real results."
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