Newly elected Reform councillor quits party

A newly-elected Reform UK councillor has quit the party just over a month after winning his seat.

Rhys Carr, who was elected in the Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton ward in Wakefield, announced his decision to leave the party on Monday.

In a statement posted on social media he said the party was "no longer the right fit for me".

A council spokesperson confirmed his resignation from Reform and said he would now sit as an independent councillor.

In his statement, Carr went on to say: "It has become clear that local issues are not prioritised, and that is simply not what I stood for when I was elected."

He said he would continue to sit as an independent councillor and remained "fully committed" to the role.

Speaking to the BBC he said he felt the Reform group in Wakefield - who won 58 of the 63 seats available - "went into it with no plan at all".

"We were promised all these things, but they have no real idea," he said.

"Wakefield has suffered under Labour for so long, but it's going the same way.

"[Reform UK] is pretty much an establishment party."

Reform's success in Wakefield saw the party bring an end to more than 50 years of Labour control in the city.

Following his election, council leader Karl Johnson said the party would be "working flat out to repay your faith and deliver for everyone in our district".

A Wakefield Council spokesperson said: "We can confirm that Councillor Rhys Carr has resigned from Reform UK and now sits as an Independent Councillor."

The spokesperson said the council leader would be making no further comment.

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