REFORM COUNCILLOR QUITS PARTY MONTHS AFTER DEFECTING FROM CONSERVATIVES

Robbie Lammas, former deputy leader of Reform UK on Medway Council, has resigned from the party eight months after joining and returned to Independent status. Lammas described the move to Reform as "the biggest mistake of my life" and branded the party "unfit to govern". He stated he felt "misled" by the organisation and has written to Kemi Badenoch expressing an intention to rejoin the Conservative Party.

Lammas defected to Reform UK in October 2025, at which time he declared the Conservative Party "over" due to its lack of policy announcements and failure to commit to leaving the European Convention on Human Rights. He claimed he was told other defections would follow and that one or two MPs would join Reform, with his own transition intended to be low-profile rather than publicised. Lammas said he believes Reform excels at public relations but "struggles with good governance" and that he was used by the party as "a good news story" during his defection.

Reform UK stated that Lammas had previously been suspended whilst under investigation for his conduct, receiving a formal warning, and that he subsequently applied for a position within the party which was rejected. The party reported recent local government election victories, with Reform now controlling over 30 councils across the United Kingdom.