A Gloucestershire county councillor has resigned from Reform UK and joined Restore Britain, becoming the first Restore Britain representative on the county council and the first in the West of England.
What Happened
Michael Rees, who represents the Cam Valley division on Gloucestershire County Council, announced his defection on Thursday 2 October. The 22-year-old was elected under the Reform UK banner in May 2025 but said he had grown disillusioned with the party’s direction under Nigel Farage, particularly its decision to welcome a wave of ex-Conservative MPs including Robert Jenrick, Suella Braverman and Danny Kruger.
“I believe that they are no longer the party I once chose to stand, vote and campaign for and that Restore Britain now better represents my values,” Rees said.
No By-Election Planned
Reform UK responded angrily, accusing Rees of betraying the volunteers and voters who helped elect him. “For him to turn his back on them in favour of a party that has yet to receive a single vote in our county is staggering,” a party spokesperson said.
Rees rejected calls to trigger a by-election, arguing it would be hypocritical given the number of former Conservative MPs who had defected to Reform UK without facing the electorate again. “Why should I then be expected to be different and resign myself?” he said.
Background
Restore Britain was founded after Rupert Lowe, the Great Yarmouth MP, was suspended from Reform UK over allegations of threatening behaviour — which he denies. The party sits to the right of Reform UK and has been steadily winning councillors across England through a series of defections, though it has not yet contested any Gloucestershire elections.
The composition of Gloucestershire County Council now stands at 27 Liberal Democrats, nine Greens, nine Reform UK, six Conservatives, two Independents, one Labour member and one Restore Britain representative.
County council leader and Liberal Democrat councillor Lisa Spivey said the move “adds to a growing pattern of instability” in Reform UK, warning that divisive far-right rhetoric “does not seek to address the very real problems individuals, communities and businesses are facing, but simply seeks to stoke tension”.
What Happens Next
Rees said he expected to continue working with Reform UK colleagues on the council on areas of common ground. Restore Britain has not announced any plans to field candidates in Gloucestershire at the next set of elections, which are expected to be absorbed into the wider local government reorganisation process as the county moves towards a single unitary authority by April 2028.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more details emerge.
