A Reform UK councillor has stepped down from the party, describing his decision to join as 'the biggest mistake of my life'. Robbie Lammas, who represents Medway in Kent, expressed embarrassment over leaving the Conservatives for Reform eight months ago.
Speaking to the BBC, Councillor Lammas said: 'I'm going to leave Reform, I've had enough, it's not what I signed up to, and I feel I've been misled.' He added: 'I've realised I have made the biggest mistake of my life.'
His defection in October last year was initially seen as a positive development for Reform locally. At that time, he stated that his 'trust in the Conservative Party has gone' and declared the Tories were 'over'. He also remarked: 'Not only is Reform a party I feel strongly aligned to as a conservative, but I believe that Nigel Farage provides the trusted leadership needed to save Britain.'
Now, Lammas claims his defection was 'just used for a news story' by Reform, and he is 'embarrassed' by his choice. He explained: 'I was told at the time there would be lots of people coming over. There would be one or two MPs. I would sort of slip in quietly. I did not want to go for a fanfare.'
The Medway councillor has also revised his opinion of his former Conservative colleagues. 'I left the party I love because I thought the party was over,' he said. 'This was back last year when the Conservatives were not announcing any policy. They had not yet committed to leaving the ECHR. Kemi [Badenoch] has turned it around.'
Lammas now serves as an independent councillor in Medway and hopes to eventually return to the Conservative benches. Reform UK has been contacted for comment.
