Nigel Farage has unveiled 20 new councillors as his defection deluge from the Tory Party continues to bolster Reform UK’s ranks.
The Reform UK leader teased a major announcement shortly after welcoming ex-Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi to his inner circle.
In an announcement blitz this morning, Reform UK revealed it is edging closer to 1,000 councillors across the country, with the total now standing at just over 960.
Kemi Badenoch’s Tories, who have already lost more than 20 former MPs to Reform UK, saw 14 councillors switch.
Meanwhile, five new Reform UK councillors had been sitting as independents.
However, a surprise switch came in St Helen’s after Councillor David Hawley joined Reform UK from the Green Party.
In a swipe at Green Party leader Zack Polanski, Cllr Hawley said: “My views no longer align with my previous party, on a national and local level.
“I voted for Brexit to take back control of Britain’s borders and lower immigration, yet the Government failed to do so.
Reform UK now has more than 960 councillors across England, with Nigel Farage setting his sights on surprassing 1,000 on May 7
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“It is time for me to join the party which best represents the views of myself and the people of St Helen’s in order to action the improvements I have long strived for.”
The announcement will likely come as a blow to Green Party leader Zack Polanski.
Mr Polanski celebrated the defections of five Labour councillors last month, with a trickle of switchers subsequently leaving Sir Keir Starmer’s party for the Greens.
Reform UK’s defection deluge stretched from Waltham Forest to the Wirral and from Sevenoaks to Stoke-on-Trent.
Nigel Farage had teased more defections to come after ex-Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi stunned Tories with shock switch
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Richard Tice, Reform UK’s deputy leader, said: “I’m thrilled to welcome 20 new councillors from across the political spectrum into Reform UK.
“We have all the momentum in British politics and increasingly people are turning to us as the last, best hope to save this country.”
Two defections in London will likely help Reform UK fill wards ahead of the capital’s crunch Local Elections on May 7.
Speaking at Reform’s London launch last Friday, Mr Farage said: “I can’t achieve my goals, Laila can’t achieve her goals, none of our candidates who are already there can achieve their goals unless you’re prepared to help us.”
Zack Polanski suffered a shock blow in St Helen’s
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Reform UK managed to field 1,624 candidates in 1,641 wards in the 2025 Local Elections.
However, before Mr Farage’s return as Reform leader, Mr Tice only managed to field 323 candidates in 2,655 wards in 2024.
Following Mr Zahawi’s defection on Monday, a huge row broke out between the Tories and Reform UK.
A Conservative Party spokesman said: “Reform is fast becoming the party of has-been politicians looking for their next gravy train.
More than 20 ex-Tory MPs have defected to Reform UK
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“Their latest recruit used to say he’d be ‘frightened to live in a country’ run by Nigel Farage, which shows the level of loyalty for sale.
”Reform want higher welfare spending and higher taxes. They are a one-man band with no plan for our country.
“Under Kemi Badenoch, the Conservatives are demonstrating we have the plan, the competence and the team to get Britain working again.”
Mr Zahawi fired back by claiming Mrs Kemi Badenoch had reached out to ask for his advice shortly before his defection.
Reform UK chairman David Bull has since hinted that a defection from Labour is “imminent”.
