Reform UK label councillor's decision to quit the party a betrayal

The words of the Reform UK representatives after the party’s only Sunderland councillor, Ian McKinley, confirmed yesterday he was parting company with the party and will now complete his term as an independent councillor.

The Hetton ward councillor announced his decision on social media just 76 days after he was elected in a by-election triggered following the death of Labour ward councillor and former deputy council leader Claire Rowntree.

Cllr McKinley said he had intended to be non-affiliated to any political party and end his time as a councillor in May but had taken an early decision to remove himself from Reform after “pressure” from the party to change his mind which he said was “taking up time that I should have been spending concentrating on my work as a councillor”.

We contacted Reform UK’s Sunderland branch to ask for a response to Cllr McKinley’s decision and the “pressure” under which he had been placed to change his mind.

The party have not responded to the Echo directly but have now posted a statement on social media accusing Cllr McKinley of “betraying” the electorate.

A spokesperson said: “We are disappointed in Cllr McKinley's decision to leave the party so soon after his election.

“He has betrayed his residents who voted for a Reform UK representative just three months ago and let down the many local Reform volunteers and supporters who dedicated their time, money and expertise to get him elected.

“We look forward to the Sunderland City Council elections in May so that voters in Hetton can elect a real Reform councillor.”

Responding to the claims Cllr McKinley has reiterated he left the party to concentrate on “being a councillor to my community for the remainder of my term” and labelled Reform’s response as a “damage limitation” exercise.

Cllr McKinley stressed he now just wants to “move on” and concentrate on completing his final few months as a councillor.