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07
Oct
North Yorkshire Conservative councillor defects to Reform
A North Yorkshire Conservative councillor has defected to Reform UK, declaring the Conservative Party “over”.
The departure of Councillor Karl Arthur leaves the controlling Conservatives and Independents group on North Yorkshire Council with a majority of just one.
Cllr Arthur, who represents the Cliffe and North Duffield division in the former Selby district, said he had made the decision because “only Nigel Farage’s party have the answers to the biggest problems facing the country”.
Cllr Arthur has represented his current division since 2022, and prior to that represented the Selby Barlby division from 2017.
He said:
The Conservative Party is over. Only Reform can deliver the change Britain needs.
Having been a member of the Conservative Party for 33 years now, I am finding it more and more difficult to know what they actually stand for.
I have taken a look at Reform, their values, and policies, and find that what they stand for align more to my values than the present Conservative Party.
The straight talking and charismatic leadership of Nigel Farage, along with the determination to do best by the British people, is why I have left the Conservative Party and joined Reform UK.
Welcoming him, a Reform spokesperson said:
We’re delighted to have Karl on board.
We welcome anyone who shares our vision for integrity, accountability, and meaningful change to join us.
North Yorkshire Council leader and leader of the Conservative group on the authority, Councillor Carl Les, said he was “very disappointed” at Cllr Arthur’s departure.
He added:
I didn’t know anything about it until he made his announcement.
Clearly, it’s for individual members to have their views as to which political party they want to support. I’m disappointed to lose him.
Cllr Les said he was not worried the Conservative majority on the authority was down to one.
He added:
Many decisions of the council are taken on cross-party lines with the strength of the argument being the deciding factor.
We work with other parties, and other groups and even individual councillors.
The defection brings the number of Reform councillors on North Yorkshire council to three.
The next council elections are due in May 2027.
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