Reform UK councillor in Dartford defects to the Conservatives

A Reform UK councillor on Dartford Borough Council (DBC) has defected to the Conservatives after becoming “uncomfortable” with his party.

Conservative council leader Jeremy Kite confirmed on Friday that James Buchan, councillor for Stone House ward, will now be sitting with them as part of the majority group that runs DBC.

Mr Buchan, who won July’s by-election for a seat on the council, said Reform UK “doesn’t really have the experience or ambition” to achieve the things he wanted from politics.

A Reform UK spokesperson said it was “disappointing that Councillor Buchan has decided to betray the voters” who elected him “just a few months ago”.

In a statement Mr Buchan added: “I stood for election with the sole aim of working for my community and getting things done for local families.

“Having had the opportunity to see Reform from the inside I’ve concluded that the party doesn’t really have the experience or ambition to do that.”

He further accused Reform UK of “relying on rhetoric and slogans, which isn’t going to help real families in communities like Stone House”.

“The more I saw of Reform, the more uncomfortable I felt to be part of it,” he added.

In welcoming him to the party, Mr Kite said: “James wanted to be able to look his family and friends in the eye and tell them he has served them well, and he knows with Reform he couldn’t do that.”