Tory councillors defect to Reform

TWENTY councillors have walked away from the Conservatives to join Reform UK - as Kemi Badenoch says her party is “shedding a lot of baggage”.

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Nigel Farage's party unveiled the wave of defections yesterday, on the eve of the Conservatives’ annual conference finale in Manchester where leader Mrs Badenoch will make a closing speech.

The boost to Reform UK's ranks in town halls follows several wins in the May elections earlier this year.