Conservative Councillor Expelled From Reform UK After Joining Party

A serving Conservative councillor has been expelled from Reform UK after the party discovered he was also a sitting member of East Sussex County Council.

Reform UK says Michael Lunn, who represents Wealden North, joined the party on 23 June this year.

The party says he was expelled after it became aware that he was a serving Conservative councillor.

A Reform UK spokesman said:

“Cllr Michael Lunn has been expelled from Reform UK after it was revealed that he was also a sitting Conservative councillor on East Sussex County Council.”

Cllr Lunn confirmed that he had joined Reform UK and attended the party's recent conference in Birmingham.

However, he said he had attended in a professional capacity to learn more about the party and insisted he remained a Conservative.

In a statement, he said:

“I attended the Reform UK Conference in a professional capacity to better understand a party that is gaining political traction and whose policies could have significant consequences if ever implemented in Government.

“Attendance was not an endorsement. I remain a Conservative Party member and was open about that fact throughout the conference, with delegates fully aware of my political affiliation.”

Cllr Lunn said he was particularly interested in speaking to Richard Tice because of his Conservative background and role within Reform UK.

He added that he remained concerned about what he described as a number of Reform UK's “radical and divisive policy positions”.

He also criticised the organisation of the conference, pointing to three activists interrupting Nigel Farage's keynote speech.

Cllr Lunn said he was not surprised by some of the reactions he received because delegates knew he was attending as a Conservative.

Conservative Party rules prevent members from also being members, supporters or candidates of another UK-registered political party.

Bob Standley, chairman of the Sussex Weald Conservatives and a former East Sussex county councillor, said he was aware of the situation.

He said he believed Cllr Lunn had joined Reform UK to attend its conference because of his involvement in environmental issues.

Mr Standley said Cllr Lunn recognised joining the party had been “a mistake” and described his time as a Reform member as an “error of judgement”.

He added that Cllr Lunn “has always been a Conservative” and “remains a Conservative”.