A Reform UK councillor has defected to the Conservatives, saying that once he had the opportunity to see Nigel Farage's party "from the inside", he found it did not have the experience or ambition to serve the community.
Dartford Borough Council member, James Buchan, was confirmed to have joined the party on Friday by the Conservative council leader, Jeremy Kite.
Mr Buchan will now be sitting with the Conservatives, which is the majority group which runs the council.
He won July's by-election for a seat on the council.
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In a statement, Mr Buchan said he "stood for election with the sole aim of working for my community and getting things done for local families".
"Having had the opportunity to see Reform from the inside, I've concluded that the party doesn't really have the experience and ambition to do that," he added.
"Relying on rhetoric and slogans isn't going to help real families in communities like Stone, and the more I saw of Reform UK, the more uncomfortable I felt to be part of it.
"I looked at friends, family, and so many other honest, hard-working people and realised that Reform UK has a pretty unfortunate way of treating people.
James Buchan has left Reform UK
|DARTFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL
"Things like a proposal to remove 'Indefinite Leave to Remain' from all non EU residents who are working here perfectly legally is an example that could be devastating for decent people who have built a life here and contribute to our country."
Mr Buchan said that it created a "huge amount of fear and anxiety and I want to be able to look my family in the eye and say 'that's not who I am'".
A Reform UK spokesman said it was "disappointing".
"It is disappointing that Cllr Buchan has decided to betray the voters who elected a Reform UK councillor just a few months ago," the spokesman added.
FULL DEVELOPMENTS:
Dartford Conservatives announced James Buchan had defected from Reform UK to the Conservatives | X"Regardless of this defection, Reform continues to go from strength to strength.
"Gaining 112 new councillors across the country since May 1, compared to the Conservatives and Labour who have lost a combined 315."
Labour MP Jim Dickson said that it was "just further evidence that Reform in Kent is falling apart".
"Chaos at County Hall, constant defections and suspensions," he added.
"They promised change but delivered only infighting.
"Cllr Buchan joining the Tories just 5 months after being elected as a Reform councillor shows there's no difference between the two parties - both have failing local people and seeding division.
"Labour is getting on with delivering for Stone."
Mr Kite welcomed his new councillor to the party.
"James wanted to be able to look his family and friends in the eye and tell them he has served them well," Mr Kite said.
"And he knows with Reform he couldn't do that."
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