Four Swale Independent Councillors Join Reform

Pic from left: Cllr Richard Palmer, branch chairman Maxwell Harrison, Cllr Lloyd Chapman, Cllr Peter MacDonald and Cllr Christine Palmer

Four members of The Swale Independent group on Swale Borough Council have defected to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, fearing the country is “heading for a Labour-run dictatorship”.

Councillors Richard Palmer - representing Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward, Councillor Chris Palmer - representing Hartlip, Newington, & Upchurch Ward, Councillor Lloyd Chapman - representing Bobbing, Iwade, & Lower Halstow Ward and Councillor Peter MacDonald - representing Minster Cliffs Ward have all defected with immediate effect (Friday 7th February).

They all will now join Cllr Kieran Mishchuk, who was elected to the council in the Milton Regis by-election in December, to form a new five-strong Reform UK group on the council.

In a statement released on behalf of the four, they told SFM News: “We feel that democracy will soon be a distant memory, and we are heading for a Labour-run dictatorship. Nobody is listening to the people in our communities. We need common sense applied to our politics and policies that will advance the UK to a better and brighter future for the next generations. People are struggling to pay bills and put food on the table. A healthcare system that is failing nationally. The power that developers have has gone from strength to strength, and with the support of the government, they now have all the power they need to build what they want and where they want it".

They went on to add: "Councils have had year-on-year cutbacks and are now struggling to support vital services. We feel that democracy will soon be a distant memory, and we are heading for a Labour-run dictatorship. Nobody is listening to the people in our communities. The only Party that offers a workable alternative that will see the investment that will make our country great again is Reform UK".

Cllr Mike Baldock, Leader of the Swale Independents on Swale Borough Council, told SFM News: “The Swale Independents would like to apologise to all those who voted for the four Swale Independent Councillors who defected to Reform UK this week. Like you, we believed them when they said in their leaflets to get elected that they only wanted to represent their local residents and rejected the national parties with their whips and enforced policies".