By M10 News Political Desk
More than a dozen Conservative councillors have defected to Reform UK, delivering a fresh blow to Prime Minister Kemi Badenoch as the Tory Party conference opens in Manchester.
By mid-morning on Sunday, M10News had confirmed at least 14 councillors had switched allegiance to Nigel Farage’s party, citing disillusionment with Conservative leadership and government direction.
Lammas and Dunning Among Latest Defectors
The latest names to emerge are Robbie Lammas of Medway Council and Barry Dunning of Hampshire County Council.
Lammas’s move is particularly significant. According to his LinkedIn profile, he stood as a Conservative parliamentary candidate in last year’s general election and previously served as an adviser to Tory MP Richard Holden until earlier this year.
Paul Miller Becomes Fourteenth to Join Reform
Shortly after Lammas and Dunning announced their resignations, Paul Miller of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council also confirmed his defection.
His decision takes the total number of confirmed defectors to 14 — a symbolic figure that underscores growing grassroots discontent within the party.
Timing Deepens Pressure on Badenoch
The defections come as the Conservatives gather in Manchester for their annual party conference — an event meant to project unity and confidence under Badenoch’s leadership.
Instead, Reform UK’s recruitment drive has shifted headlines away from the Prime Minister’s policy agenda and toward questions over internal party loyalty.
Reform UK Says More to Come
Sources within Reform UK told M10 News that the latest wave of defections “won’t be the last,” and that “dozens more” local councillors have been in talks with the party over recent weeks.
A senior Reform strategist said: “We’re hearing from people at every level of the Conservative Party who feel abandoned. They say Kemi Badenoch talks tough but delivers nothing.”
Reform’s Growing Appeal
Reform UK has steadily gained traction among voters frustrated with what they see as the Conservatives’ failure to deliver on promises around immigration, tax cuts, and public spending.
The party’s leader, Nigel Farage, has sought to position Reform as the “true conservative alternative” — arguing that Badenoch’s government has drifted too far toward the political centre.
Conservative Response: ‘Fair-Weather Members’
A senior Conservative source dismissed the defections, describing the councillors as “serial party-hoppers” with limited grassroots influence.
“These are fair-weather members who were never true Conservatives,” the source told M10 News. “We remain focused on delivering for the country, not on political stunts.”
Tories Struggle to Contain Internal Frustration
Despite the official line, the defections have clearly rattled many inside the party.
Several MPs privately acknowledged that Reform’s appeal is growing in parts of southern England and the Midlands — areas traditionally considered safe Tory territory.
One backbencher said the party leadership “needs to stop dismissing Reform as a sideshow” and “start understanding why lifelong Tory voters are looking elsewhere.”
Farage: ‘The Dam Has Burst’
Speaking on Sunday afternoon, Nigel Farage welcomed the defectors, claiming that the “dam has burst” inside the Conservative Party.
He told M10News: “More and more Tories are realising that their party no longer stands for conservative values. We’re ready to give them a home — and give voters a real choice.”
Analysts: Warning Sign Ahead of Local Elections
Political analysts say the timing of the defections could prove damaging ahead of next year’s local elections.
Dr Sarah Keane of the London School of Politics said: “Symbolically, this is devastating for Badenoch. If the exodus continues, it risks normalising the idea that Reform UK is a legitimate destination for disaffected Conservatives.”
Grassroots Anxiety Growing
Within Tory circles, concern is mounting that the leadership is struggling to reconnect with the party base.
Some activists have accused senior figures of being “out of touch” and prioritising Westminster politics over local campaigning.
One Conservative councillor, speaking on condition of anonymity, told M10 News: “There’s a sense the party doesn’t listen anymore. Reform might not win nationally, but they’re definitely winning attention.”
Efforts to Rebuild Unity
Kemi Badenoch is expected to address the issue during her keynote speech at the conference later this week, urging members to “stand together and fight for Britain’s future.”
Party insiders say she will also unveil measures aimed at re-energising the grassroots and reaffirming the Conservatives’ commitment to core values such as economic growth, border control, and public safety.
Reform Rising in Polls
Recent opinion polls show Reform UK polling between 14% and 17% nationally — enough to split the right-wing vote and threaten dozens of Conservative seats at the next general election.
Analysts warn that even modest Reform gains could prove catastrophic for Badenoch’s electoral strategy.
Political Earthquake in the Making?
While Reform UK remains far behind the major parties in total membership and infrastructure, today’s wave of defections suggests the momentum is shifting.
For many Conservatives, the fear is no longer just about losing voters — but losing their own people.
