Reform UK Councillor Defects To Tories After Feeling 'Uncomfortable' Over Anti-Migration Policies

Britain's Reform UK leader Nigel Farage during a news conference in London, England, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025.A Reform UK councillor has defected to the Conservatives because he had become “uncomfortable” with the party’s policies.James Buchan, elected to sit in the borough of Dartford in Kent only in July, announced that he struggled with the idea of facing his family while still being part of Nigel Farage’s party.He said: “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.”Buchan suggested Reform’s anti-immigration plans spread fear and that “relying on rhetoric and slogans isn’t going to help real families in communities” like his own.He added: “The more I saw of Reform UK, the more uncomfortable I felt to be part of it.”He said he wanted to be able to “look my family in the eye and say, ‘that’s not who I am’,” pointing to Farage’s plans to end indefinite leave to remain status which “could be devastating for decent people who have built a life here and contribute to our country”.Reform wants to replace the current policy with visas which would require people to reapply to live in the UK.Buchan claimed these plans had created a “huge amount of fear and anxiety” and that Farage’s party had a “pretty unfortunate way of treating people”.A Reform source said: “He got elected in July 2025 as a Reform councillor. He should resign his seat but he won’t because he knows he will lose under the Tory banner. We look forward to winning this seat back as soon as possible.”Dartford’s Conservative council leader Jeremy Kite welcomed Buchan, saying: “James knows that getting elected isn’t about power, it’s about service and being supportive of people.”The defection comes shortly after Reform also failed to win the Caerphilly by-election for their first seat in the Welsh parliament.But, the party is still leading in the polls and still has a series of Conservative defections under its belt.Related...Farage Says He Is 'Unhappy' With Reform MP Over 'Ugly' Remarks On Race – But Rejects Calls For PunishmentFresh Reform UK Row As MP Warns Against 'LGBT-Supporting' Political AlliancesReform UK MP Condemned For Claiming There Are Not Enough White People In TV Adverts

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