Reform defection for former independent councillors in Spalding, Donington and Moulton
Five independent district councillors have defected to Reform.
Former leader of South Holland Independents Rob Gibson have now joined the party along with Ingrid Sheard (Spalding Monkshouse), Thomas Sneath (Moulton, Weston and Cowbit), Manzur Hasan (Spalding St John’s) and Jane King (Donington).
We approached Coun Gibson two weeks ago about the prospect of some of his members joining Reform. At that time, he did not wish to comment directly on the prospect — saying ‘we will see’ and that there was ‘potential’ but that no decisions had been made yet.
Now the decision has been made as the five councillors - who are still listed on South Holland District Council’s website as members of South Holland Independents - have been pictured in front of blue taxi with Boston and Skegness MP Richard Tice (Reform) and Andrea Jenkyns.
Ms Jenkyns is hoping to be the first Mayor of the Greater Lincolnshire Combined Authority - which has an £86,060 salary.
She states on her Facebook page: “I am very proud to welcome with Richard Tice, five South Holland Councillors, who have today joined Reform UK It's great to have Cllrs Robert, Ingrid, Thomas, Manzur and Jane on board.”
All five councillors were part of a major victory for the independents at the last district council election in 2023. At that time, the Tories narrowly held onto power of the authority by just one seat. They later gained a further seat following by-election.
Earlier this year, Reform announced that it would be putting candidates up in every seat for Lincolnshire’s county-wide elections in May.
The party, led by Nigel Farage, didn’t win any in the previous 2021 elections, when only four candidates ran shortly after the party was formed.
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