Labour councillor defects to Reform becoming first direct switch between two parties

Taking to social media, Councillor Humberstone said: "I’ve battled with this decision for some time. But deep down, I know it’s the right call.

"It isn’t ordinary, hardworking people in Stevenage and across our country who’ve left Labour, Labour has left us.

"When policies harm the British people and weaken our democracy, I cannot in good conscience support them. As Stevenage’s youngest councillor, I entered politics to serve with integrity and respect.

"Today, I know I join a party that will put the British people and our great nation first. I feel proud to be part of this team and ready to get to work."

Councillor Humberstone becomes the first Reform UK councillor on the Hertfordshire town's borough council, which is currently run by a healthy Labour majority.

Nigel Farage's party won five of the six seats in Stevenage on Hertfordshire County Council back in May.

A local Labour party source told The Bishop's Stortford Independent: "Mason showed a lot of promise and potential when he joined the party, but the reality is he fell extremely below the mark."

Stevenage’s Labour MP Kevin Bonavia backed calls for a by-election and said he was "deeply disappointed" that Councillor Humberstone had moved to a party which "thrives on fear and division and has no practical solutions for our country’s future."

Mr Bonavia added: "I will not be distracted by political opportunism as I continue to focus on working day and night to secure positive changes for our town and villages as our local MP."

Welcoming Councillor Humberstone's defection, party leader Nigel Farage said the move showed his party was "winning the support of young people from across the political landscape."

Council leader Richard Henry said: "I made every attempt, above and beyond what would be considered reasonable, to accommodate and mentor Cllr Humberstone as he brought many challenges to the table in terms of his attendance, punctuality, adherence to commitments, dedication to the role and much more."

Labour has lost several councillors over Sir Keir Starmer's leadership, including in Broxtowe, where a collection of 20 councillors dramatically quit the party to form their own group.

Broxtowe Alliance form the minority administration of the Nottinghamshire borough council, having split from the party citing Starmer's leadership, the party's stance on the war in Gaza and the fallout from the adjustments to the Winter Fuel Allowance.

Earlier this week Councillor Majid Nagra, who represents the Loddon ward of Wokingham Borough Council quit Labour, saying Sir Keir Starmer had failed to condemn the "mass killing of children" in Gaza.

Heading in the other direction, the Conservatives have been hit with a series of defections to Reform UK this week.

Party leader Kemi Badenoch has acknowledged her party is enduring a "rough and bumpy time" following the defections of MP Danny Kruger and former minister Maria Caulfield to Reform UK.

East Wiltshire MP Mr Kruger, who had sat on Mrs Badenoch’s front bench as a shadow welfare minister, defected to Reform, declaring the Conservative Party was “over" and urging his colleagues to follow him to Nigel Farage's party.

Former Lewes MP Maria Caulfield, who lost her seat at last year’s general election, also joined Reform UK, telling GB News: "If you are conservative right-minded, then the future is Reform. The country is going to change a lot."

Ms Caulfield returned to her previous job as a nurse after leaving Parliament and switched her allegiance a month ago.

A Labour spokesman said: "A day barely passes without another failed Tory politician jumping ship and tying Reform to their record of failure.

"Nigel Farage’s party is a comfortable home for Conservatives who trashed Britain’s public services and crashed the economy, saddling families with sky-high mortgages and prices.

"Only this Labour Government is driving forward delivery, to make working people better off and renew our country."