by Rebecca Hannant
An East Riding councillor has defected from the Conservative Party to join Reform UK.
Councillor Denise Howard, who represents the East Wolds and Coastal ward – which includes Brandesburton, Skipsea and Beeford – said she felt “let down by so many broken promises” from the Conservatives.
Cllr Howard joined East Riding Council in 2023 after being elected to represent the East Wolds and Coastal ward for the Conservatives. She has now defected to Reform UK, saying she believes only Nigel Farage’s party has the right answers to the biggest problems facing the country.
Cllr Howard said: “The Conservative Party is over. Only Reform UK can deliver the change Britain needs. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch told her party conference that change won’t be easy, but we simply don’t have the time for dither and delay. The Conservatives are playing catch-up and have lost their credibility.
“As a Reform UK councillor, I will be pushing for open and honest debate around issues that really concern residents – and doing my best to make sure they get value for money for their council tax.
“My respect for my fellow ward councillors remains, and I hope to continue working with them for the good of everyone in East Wolds and Coastal.”
She joins South West Holderness Reform UK councillor Jon Dimberline. The pair will now form the Reform group within East Riding Council, with Cllr Dimberline as leader.
Cllr Dimberline said: “I am delighted to welcome Cllr Denise Howard. She is a highly intelligent and dedicated councillor who serves her residents and constituency extremely well. I believe she will continue to do so.
“We have recently seen nine defections across to Reform UK, and we must ask ourselves why. It’s quite simple – more existing councillors and MPs are disillusioned with their own parties’ continuous vows, promises, lies and failure to make the real difference we need to see in today’s crisis in Britain.
“We are and will be a party of fair play and common sense throughout. We need immigration, but controlled – here to work, integrate, pay tax and become part of the fabric of this society, many of whom I know and already have built relationships with.
“We need lower taxation, lower utility bills, less wastage within authorities and government, the cost of living to stabilise and reduce, and to develop economic growth not by continuing to over-tax everyone.
“Never has there been a time when something different is needed – that time is now, and Cllr Howard’s decision endorses this at local level.”
The Gazette has approached Cllr Anne Handley, the East Riding Council leader and Conservative Group leader, for comment.