A local Conservative group has suffered a triple-blow after three councillors quit on the same day - including its leader, who has defected to Reform UK.
Head of the opposition group at Labour-run Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Daniel Jellyman, announced his defection this morning, saying it was "the right moment" to join Reform.
Councillor Jellyman, who represents Hanford, Newstead and Trentham, was first elected in 2015.
In a post to social media, he said: "It’s the right moment to join a party that puts family, community, and country first, priorities too often forgotten by successive Labour and Conservative governments.
"Our country is clearly struggling. As a councillor for over a decade, I’ve fought to deliver real, transformative change for our city, but time and again I've been hampered by a system in which crucial decisions are made by unelected, out-of-touch bureaucrats.
"Neither the Conservative nor the Labour Party has the mettle to deliver the radical change we need to restore pride in our city and our country.
"Both are held back by outdated thinking and an arrogance that assumes only they should govern, and that only their decades-old ideas can solve today’s problems."
The ex-Tory group leader added that a "new approach" was needed to "fix" Britain, which "only Reform UK offers".
Daniel Jellyman announced his defection earlier today
|FACEBOOK/DANIEL JELLYMAN
Nigel Farage's party said it was "delighted" to have Councillor Jellyman on board.
A Reform spokesman said: "We welcome anyone who shares our vision for integrity, accountability, and meaningful change to join us."
Current deputy group leader of the Tory group, Councillor Lorraine Beardmore, will take on the role of leader on an interim basis.
Fellow Stoke-on-Trent Tory councillors Heather Blurton and Maxine Clark also revealed this morning they would be leaving the party to sit as non-aligned members.
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Stoke-on-Trent Conservative association chairman, Dean Richardson, said the news of the triple resignations was "very disappointing".
He said: "Over a number of years, the Conservative team here in Stoke has worked hard to build a party that offered residents a real alternative after decades of Labour taking our area for granted.
"The team bond in Stoke has been very strong and has been fundamental to Conservative success in Stoke-on-Trent and whilst I appreciate that nothing lasts forever and respect the decisions Dan, Heather and Maxine have made, I am saddened that three councillors have left the party today."
Reform UK gained its first seat on Stoke-on-Trent City Council when Luke Shenton won a by-election in May.
Reform Councillor Luke Shenton said he was 'delighted' at the news of Councillor Jellyman's defection
|Councillor Shenton, who serves voters in the Birches Head and Northwood ward, said: "Today’s news shows that Reform UK is going from strength to strength here in Stoke-on-Trent.
"We will work tirelessly to earn the trust and votes of residents to win control of Stoke-on-Trent City Council in 2027 and all three parliamentary constituencies at the general election that follows."