Conservative Councillor and Former PCC Candidate Joins Reform UK

Robert Potts, a Conservative councillor, has declared his move to Reform UK. Mr. Potts was elected to Durham County Council in 2021 and had previously run as the Conservative candidate for the region’s police and crime commissioner (PCC) this year. On social media, he stated his pride in representing “the Reform Party, as their first ever Durham county councillor.” Richard Bell, the leader of the Conservative group, expressed being “disappointed” by Mr. Potts’ departure but chose not to elaborate further. Mr. Potts, who has been approached for a statement, secured his election to the Evenwood ward, located near Bishop Auckland, in 2021. Prior to his service as a police officer with Durham Constabulary, he pursued a military career, which included deployment in the Falkland Islands. In May’s Durham PCC elections, he finished second to Joy Allen of the Labour party. Through a message posted on a recently established social media account, he declared: “As you can see, I’ve not only moved Facebook pages, I’ve also moved parties and now represent Reform UK.” In October, Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, urged Conservative councillors to switch allegiance, asserting that “a huge number of them genuinely agree with us.” Conversely, instances of defections from Reform to the Conservative party have also occurred, amidst allegations of racism involving candidates. There have been proposals advocating for individuals who change political parties to be subject to by-elections.