Sutton's first ever Reform UK councillors have instructed the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) to cease communication after a straightforward inquiry about their intentions now that they form the council's primary opposition group.
Janey Gould and Alison Long were elected as Sutton Council's first Reform UK representatives during the local elections on May 7. They now constitute the sole opposition group on the council, following the complete electoral collapse of the local Conservative Party.
Election Results and Council Composition
The long-serving Liberal Democrat administration retained control of Sutton Council with a commanding majority, securing 51 of the 56 seats after gaining 22 councillors on election night. The remaining four seats were divided between Labour incumbent Dave Tchil in Hackbridge, Beddington Independent Residents member Nick Mattey, and the two Reform UK councillors in St Helier West.
Cllr Gould and Cllr Long won their seats in St Helier West alongside Liberal Democrat councillor Joicy Joseph, defeating the Conservative incumbents who lost all three ward seats.
Attempts to Engage with Councillors
Following the election results, the LDRS contacted Cllr Mattey and Cllr Tchil to discuss their plans for the upcoming four-year term and how they intend to hold the council accountable given the Liberal Democrats' dominance. The LDRS also sought comment from Sutton Liberal Democrats.
Efforts to reach Cllr Gould and Cllr Long were made via Facebook, where both maintain active pages. However, neither responded to three messages over three days that explained the reporter's intentions and invited them to speak.
Formal Response from Reform UK Branch
On the afternoon of May 14, Trevor Smith, Chair of the Sutton Reform Branch, sent an email acknowledging the LDRS's attempts to contact the councillors about their plans for Sutton. Mr Smith stated: "Neither myself, Alison, Janey or anyone else from the Sutton branch of Reform UK wish to talk to you at the moment. I would deem it a favour if you would desist from contacting them henceforth."
As newly elected councillors, Cllr Gould and Cllr Long are expected to attend council meetings and address queries from residents in their capacity as local representatives. Their refusal to engage with the media raises questions about transparency and accountability, particularly given their role as the official opposition group.
