A North Yorkshire councillor is facing calls to stand down after switching political allegiances for the second time in four months.
Councillor John Mann, member for the Oatlands and Pannal division in Harrogate, has announced he has joined Reform UK
The councillor was originally elected as a Conservative but stood down to become an independent member in November.
Commenting on his decision to join Reform, Cllr Mann said: “I have joined Reform UK as Britain is broken on a national and local level. Illegal immigration is out of control, the economy is flatlining, taxation is at a record high, it’s difficult to get a doctor’s appointment, we can’t afford to maintain the roads properly, the list of issues is endless.
“The other political parties have created this mess over the last two decades and have no answers. On the other hand, Reform UK has a clear vision and path for national, economic and social renewal.
“I look forward to implementing Reform’s wider vision to North Yorkshire and deliver the change the residents deserve.”
Jonathan Swales, the Reform UK branch chair of Harrogate and Knaresborough, added: “We’re very pleased to welcome Cllr Mann to Reform UK. This is a serious and considered decision by a long-serving councillor with deep experience across key committees including planning, scrutiny and health.
“Councillor Mann has a strong record of public service locally. Reform offers a platform that prioritises accountability, local decision-making and practical solutions, and we believe that resonates strongly across North Yorkshire.”
But Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said Cllr Mann should resign immediately to allow a by-election to take place.
He added: “This is a straightforward matter of democratic accountability. Cllr Mann has now switched allegiances twice without once asking his constituents whether they support his direction of travel.
“The honourable thing to do is clear: stand down, call a by-election, and let the people of Oatlands and Pannal have their say. If Cllr Mann genuinely believes Reform UK’s agenda is what his residents want, he should have the confidence to put that to a vote. We suspect he knows the answer.
Cllr Mark Warr, Harrogate town councillor for the Pannal Ward, added: “The Liberal Democrats are ready to fight a by-election and to offer the residents in Oatlands and Pannal a positive, community-focused alternative — one that puts local people first, not a national party’s media profile.”
The Local Democracy Reporting Service has asked Cllr Mann to comment on the calls to stand down.
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