Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has welcomed 29 councillors who have defected to his party in recent weeks, boosting its total number of council seats to over 100. The defections come primarily from the Conservative Party, with others joining from the Liberal Democrats and independents.
Speaking at a press conference in Westminster, Farage described the shift as evidence that Reform UK is “broadening and deepening” its influence ahead of the upcoming local elections on May 1. However, the party’s recent growth has been overshadowed by internal disputes, including the suspension of MP Rupert Lowe.
Party Turmoil Over MP’s Suspension
Farage acknowledged that Reform UK has faced “a little bit of turbulence” in recent weeks, particularly surrounding Lowe’s suspension. Lowe, the MP for Great Yarmouth, was suspended and referred to police over allegations of “threats of physical violence” against party chairman Zia Yusuf. Reform UK also cited claims of bullying within Lowe’s office.
Lowe has denied the allegations, calling them “untrue and false,” and insisted he was suspended for publicly criticising Farage in a newspaper interview.
Addressing the controversy, Farage stated: “We’ve been increasingly concerned about the behaviour of one of our members of Parliament. When we found out that serious complaints had been made, we thought, let’s suspend the whip and find out the truth.” He confirmed that an internal investigation could be completed this week.
Farage also condemned “online abuse and outright racism” directed at Yusuf following Lowe’s suspension. Despite the internal tensions, he insisted that the row would not hinder Reform UK’s election prospects.
Surge in Defections Boosts Reform UK’s Numbers
Reform UK has been steadily gaining local representatives, with 113 councillors now aligned with the party. Of these, only 15 were elected under the Reform banner, while the remaining 98 joined through defections—62 of which have occurred since the beginning of the year.
The majority of defectors (66) were originally elected as Conservatives, while three came from Labour, and one from the Liberal Democrats. Others were independents or from local parties.
Farage dismissed concerns that internal disputes could derail the party’s momentum, saying Reform UK remains focused on campaigning. “We’re going to be out there canvassing, campaigning, and proving that the polls aren’t just virtual—the real votes exist on the ground,” he said.
Controversy Over Historical Comments
During the press conference, Farage was also questioned about reports that a former party vetting official had described Adolf Hitler as “brilliant” at inspiring crowds. Asked whether Reform UK would investigate the remarks, Farage dismissed the idea as “ridiculous,” noting that the individual in question was “an orthodox Jew who said Hitler was evil but acknowledged he was very good at getting a crowd.”
As Reform UK prepares to contest all council seats in the upcoming elections, the party faces both growing support and mounting scrutiny over its leadership and internal affairs.
