Reform UK is facing chaos as newly elected councillor Donna Edmunds quits the party, blasting leader Nigel Farage.
Donna Edmunds, who secured a council seat in Hodnet, Shropshire, announced her resignation just days after the local elections. She revealed her decision on social media, where she said she was suspended pending an internal investigation.
On Sunday, she posted on X (formerly Twitter) that she planned to defect. She even referenced waiting for ousted MP Rupert Lowe to set up a rival party.
However, leaving the party has proven complicated. Edmunds found the only option was to cancel the auto-renewal of her membership payment. Therefore, she technically remains a Reform UK member until the year’s end.
In a fiery outburst, Edmunds declared Farage “must never be prime minister” and called him a “terrible leader.” She insisted that a good leader brings the team along and celebrates collective success. Meanwhile, she argued, a bad leader takes all the credit and betrays allies.
With her freedom restored, Edmunds openly voiced her support for jailed far-right figure Tommy Robinson. She labeled him a “political prisoner” and called for his release. Reform UK faces chaos as these public disputes play out, undercutting the party’s recent victories.
Reform UK had a historic breakthrough in the local elections, winning control of ten councils. The party also captured the mayoralties of Greater Lincolnshire and Hull and East Yorkshire. Farage celebrated these results, calling them “the death of the Conservative Party” and “the end of two-party politics.”
Yet, controversies quickly piled up. Reform UK faced criticism after announcing a plan to ban all flags from council buildings except the Union Jack and St George’s flag. The backlash forced the party to clarify that county flags would also be permitted.
Additionally, The Independent revealed that Dame Andrea Jenkyns’ promise to scrap council diversity officers in Lincolnshire fell flat. The reason? Lincolnshire County Council does not even employ diversity officers.
Another contradiction emerged as Reform UK, which vowed to end home working in councils, offered remote work options itself. Reform UK faces chaos as these mixed messages spark ridicule and scrutiny.
A Reform UK spokesperson defended the suspension, saying Edmunds publicly declared her intent to join another party. The spokesperson declined further comment until the investigation concludes.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats made gains in the south, snatching over 100 seats and tightening the pressure on Conservatives. Reform UK’s surge, particularly in the North and Midlands, has reshaped the political landscape.
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