By-election after new councillor quit could cost £25k

VOTERS WILL FEEL MISLED BY REFORM - LABOUR

- By OLIVER PRIDMORE

REFORM UK are being accused of leaving Nottinghamshire taxpayers to "pay the price" as an election caused by one of their new councillors resigning could cost £25,000.

Nigel Farage's party say opponents should "get their own house in order" before criticising them over the fact that one of their new Nottinghamshire county councillors quit just days after being elected.

The resignation of Desmond Clarke from the Newark West division means a by-election is being held there on July 3.

The election on May 1 initially saw Reform win 40 county council seats before Mr Clarke stepped back.

It means the party have 39 councillors and even if the Newark West by-election went against them, they would still have more than enough members to keep running the council.

Although Reform say Mr Clarke resigned due to changes in his "personal circumstances", opposition parties have criticised such an early resignation.