Councillor quits Reform UK as 'it's tainted by ex-Tory politicians'

A COUNCILLOR cancelled his membership with Reform, claiming he was 'disillusioned' by former Tories joining and 'tainting' Nigel Farage's party with their legacy.

- By RICHARD EVANS

But Reform has described Cllr David Carr's criticism as 'sour grapes' claiming the party rejected his attempt to officially sign up as a councillor - a claim the Old Colwyn member denies.

In an interview with the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Cllr Carr also took aim at the Conservative Party, which he claimed provided weak opposition to Conwy's First Independent, Labour and Plaid Cymru coalition. The war of words follows Llandudno former Conservative councillors Louise Emery and Tom Montgomery jumping ship to Reform UK last week.

In the days that followed, it also emerged that Cllr Carr, an independent councillor, was also a member of Reform. The fall out continued when Cllr Goronwy Edwards resigned from his cabinet position and was 'removed' from the First Independent Group for not declaring membership of another party.

Cllr Carr, though, said he left Reform on Wednesday after being a member since June, claiming he was unhappy Cllr Emery was presented as the party's Conwy leader. “I left Reform yesterday (Wednesday). I wasn’t a member for very long,” he said.

“I thought this was a new way forward, and it seems the Conservatives moved in. Cllr Louise Emery, she was deputy leader (of Conwy County Council) when they put the council tax up. She initiated the working from home. The four-weekly bin collections - she went along with that. Whether Cllr Emery believed in them (the policies) or not, she went along with them.