South Holland District Council has a new look after five councillors defected to Reform UK, one other is in the process of changing party and another has left the Conservatives.
Those switching to the party which previously had no representation on the authority are from the South Holland Independents that came within a seat of taking control of the authority at the most recent election.
They’re all set to stand for Reform at the Lincolnshire County Council election on May 1.
Councillors Robert Gibson (Spalding St Paul’s ward on the district council), Manzur Hasan (Spalding St John’s) and Jane King (Donington, Quadring and Gobserton) are currently on the county council.
District councillors Ingrid Sheard (Spalding Monkshouse) and Thomas Sneath (Moulton, Weston and Cowbit) will hope to join them.
A Reform press release stated: “Reform UK deputy leader and MP for Boston and Skegness Richard Tice said he was delighted to welcome the councillors to Reform UK stating he had met with them a few months back and was pleased that they have decided to move across to Reform and looked forward to working with them to secure as many Reform UK councillors as possible in the May elections.”
Coun Gibson was previously leader of the opposition, a role he’ll have to give up to the leader of the South Holland Independents.
That’s being taken on Coun Paul Barnes who could also take on Coun Gibson’s leadership of the Spalding Town Forum.
“There won’t be any change from our end,” Coun Barnes said. “There are still a few independents who are free to make their own decisions and we’ll carry on as normal to make sure the residents have their voices heard.
“I see no issue with working with any of my former colleagues.”
Meanwhile two other councillors are currently not aligned with any party.
Coun Sam Chauhan (Spalding Monkshouse) told The Voice he was waiting to be ratified by a new party having previously been voted in as South Holland Independent.
He said he was not going to be standing in the county council elections.
Coun Sally Slade (Pinchbeck) has left the Conservative Party and said she would remain ‘unaligned’.
“I have no issue with the Conservatives locally at all; they do a good job,” she said. “But I do not like the way the national Conservative Party has gone. It has moved too far to the right and does not reflect my views.”
