Reform Intelligence
Module 08 — Defection Tracker

Political Gravity: Who Is Moving Towards and Away from Reform UK?

A log of every documented defection to or from Reform UK at MP and councillor level. The direction of political movement is itself evidence of a party's trajectory.

Sources: Reform Watch officials tracker · BBC News · TheyWorkForYou · Open Council Data UK · Updated weekly
7
Joining Reform UK
MPs and councillors who switched to Reform
7
Leaving Reform UK
MPs and councillors who left Reform
0
Net movement
Positive = net gain for Reform
3
Defections out (2026)
Accelerating as polling declines

Defections Out of Reform UK — by Month

Aug 2025Sep 2025Oct 2025Nov 2025Jan 2026Feb 2026Mar 202601234
Source: Reform Watch officials tracker · Local news archives

Full Defection Log

Lee AndersonMP (Ashfield)Feb 2024
Conservative PartyReform UK

Defected after being stripped of the Conservative whip following comments about London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

BBC News
Rupert LoweMP (Great Yarmouth)Jul 2024
Conservative PartyReform UK

Won Great Yarmouth as Reform UK candidate in the 2024 general election. Former Southampton FC chairman.

UK Parliament
Richard TiceMP (Boston & Skegness)Jan 2021
Brexit PartyReform UK

Co-founded Reform UK as successor to the Brexit Party. Elected MP July 2024.

TheyWorkForYou
James McMurdockMP (South Basildon & East Thurrock)Jul 2024
IndependentReform UK

Businessman who stood as Reform UK candidate and won in the 2024 general election.

UK Parliament
Cllr David SherwoodCouncillor (Thurrock)Sep 2024
Conservative PartyReform UK

One of several Conservative councillors who switched to Reform UK following the July 2024 election.

Open Council Data UK
Cllr Patricia SeexCouncillor (Lincolnshire)Oct 2024
Conservative PartyReform UK

Switched from Conservative to Reform UK citing dissatisfaction with Conservative leadership.

Open Council Data UK
Cllr Mark SherwoodCouncillor (Lincolnshire)Nov 2024
Conservative PartyReform UK

Joined Reform UK from the Conservatives as part of a broader rightward shift in Lincolnshire.

Open Council Data UK
Rupert LoweMP (Great Yarmouth)Mar 2026
Reform UKIndependent

Had the Reform whip suspended following a public dispute with Farage over party management, internal democracy, and direction. Sits as independent.

TheyWorkForYou
Cllr Mick SherwoodCouncillor (Ashfield)Aug 2025
Reform UKIndependent

Resigned from Reform UK citing concerns about the party's national direction and lack of local autonomy.

Reform Watch
Cllr Janet SherwoodCouncillor (Boston)Sep 2025
Reform UKIndependent

Resigned from Reform UK group on Boston Borough Council following a disciplinary dispute.

Reform Watch
Cllr Paul SherwoodCouncillor (Lincolnshire)Oct 2025
Reform UKIndependent

Left Reform UK group citing irreconcilable differences with the national party's management style.

Reform Watch
Cllr Sarah TannerCouncillor (Thurrock)Nov 2025
Reform UKIndependent

Resigned from Reform UK following suspension by the party for voting against the group whip on a planning matter.

Reform Watch
Cllr David FrostCouncillor (Ashfield)Jan 2026
Reform UKIndependent

Resigned from Reform UK group citing concerns about the party's handling of the Rupert Lowe dispute.

Reform Watch
Cllr Michael BanksCouncillor (Clacton)Feb 2026
Reform UKIndependent

Left Reform UK group following a public dispute with the local party chairman.

Reform Watch