What Advance UK Is
Advance UK is a new right-wing to far-right political party in the United Kingdom led by Ben Habib, who was formerly Deputy Leader of Reform UK. The party was formed in mid-2025 out of a split from Reform UK and formally registered with the Electoral Commission in December 2025. (Wikipedia)
Advance UK presents itself as an alternative to existing parties, arguing for a different approach to local and national politics and emphasising local accountability and principle-driven representation rather than centralised party control. (Wikipedia)
Case Study 1 — Cambridgeshire Councillor Joins Advance UK
- Councillor Desmond “Des” Watt of Cambridgeshire County Council is a notable example of a former Reform UK councillor who has now joined Advance UK.
- Cllr Watt was originally elected in 2025 as a Reform UK representative for the Yaxley and Farcet division. After leaving Reform UK in August 2025 and sitting as an independent, he formally joined Advance UK in early February 2026. (News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire)
Why this matters:
- Watt’s move showcases how some councillors are seeking a new political identity after becoming dissatisfied with their original party.
- He cited a desire for “principle over personality”, suggesting dissatisfaction with national party dynamics and a wish to focus on local concerns and accountability. (News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire)
This adds presence and legitimacy to Advance UK at the local council level, giving the party a foothold in a major English county authority. (Wikipedia)
Case Study 2 — Paul Bean Joins Advance UK
- Paul Bean, a councillor representing Crook ward on Durham County Council, joined Advance UK in January 2026 after previously being expelled from Reform UK.
- Bean’s departure from Reform UK followed scrutiny over controversial social media posts and disagreements with the party’s leadership. (asianstandard.co.uk)
Bean described his departure as being “thrown under the bus” by his former party and said joining Advance UK better matched his political principles and priorities. (asianstandard.co.uk)
This case highlights how Advance UK is attracting councillors who feel alienated or unsupported within Reform UK’s internal structures, and are seeking a different political platform. (Wikipedia)
What This Means for Advance UK and Reform UK
Growth of Advance UK Representation
As of early 2026, Advance UK has at least four councillors representing it on local councils across England, including former Reform UK councillors and councillors who previously sat as independents following their departure from Reform. (Wikipedia)
Having sitting councillors gives Advance UK:
- A tangible local presence in government,
- A platform to contest future elections,
- A way to build momentum ahead of the 2026 local elections and beyond. (Wikipedia)
Tension with Reform UK
Advance UK’s formation and success in recruiting former Reform councillors reflects internal tension within Reform UK itself. Many Reform councillors have:
- Left the party,
- Been suspended or expelled,
- Sat as independents before joining Advance UK or other groups. (Politics Home)
Political analysts see this as part of a broader pattern of instability within Reform UK’s local ranks — where high turnover and internal disagreements have led some councillors to seek alternatives like Advance UK. (Politics Home)
Public and Political Commentary
- Supporters of Advance UK describe the party as offering councillors greater independence, less rigid national control, and stronger local focus. (Wikipedia)
- Reform UK, meanwhile, continues to campaign on its own platform but has faced criticism for internal strife and councillor defections or expulsions. (Politics Home)
- Some commentators suggest that Advance UK’s growth reflects broader dissatisfaction among some right-leaning politicians who feel Reform UK has not delivered on its organisational structure or leadership style. (Wikipedia)
Summary — Key Takeaways
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Party Name | Advance UK |
| Founded | 2025 (registered Dec 2025) (Wikipedia) |
| Leader | Ben Habib (former Reform UK deputy) (Wikipedia) |
| Council Representation | At least four councillors, including former Reform UK members (Wikipedia) |
| Notable Case Studies | Cllr Des Watt (Cambridgeshire), Cllr Paul Bean (Durham) (News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire) |
| Political Significance | Indicator of Reform UK’s internal pressure and the rise of a new right-wing alternative (Wikipedia) |
Here’s a detailed breakdown of how Advance UK has gained councillors who were formerly with Reform UK — including specific case studies of defections, why they happened, and comments from the politicians and observers involved.
Background: Advance UK and Its Origins
Advance UK is a right-wing political party in the United Kingdom led by Ben Habib, a former Deputy Leader of Reform UK. The party was officially registered with the Electoral Commission in December 2025 after splitting from Reform UK due to internal disagreements and leadership disputes. (Wikipedia)
As of early 2026, Advance UK has elected members serving as councillors on several local authorities — many of whom began their political careers with Reform UK before defecting or leaving that party. (Wikipedia)
Case Study 1 — Desmond “Des” Watt (Cambridgeshire County Council)
- Ward/Area: Yaxley and Farcet division, Cambridgeshire.
- Journey: Des Watt was originally elected in May 2025 as a Reform UK councillor and was even appointed party whip at the county level. (News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire)
- Change: He later changed his affiliation to non-aligned independent in August 2025, citing differences over political direction. (News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire)
- Joining Advance UK: In early February 2026, Watt formally joined Advance UK and now represents the party on Cambridgeshire County Council. (News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire)
- Comment: Watt said he wanted a political home that prioritises principle over personality and empowers councillors to serve their communities without heavy national party control — a theme Advance UK emphasises. (News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire)
Why It Matters:
Watt’s move gives Advance UK a foothold in a large county council, boosting the party’s visibility and signalling local appetite for alternatives to traditional national parties. (News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire)
Case Study 2 — Paul Bean (Durham County Council)
- Ward/Area: Crook ward, Durham.
- Background: Paul Bean was elected in May 2025 as a Reform UK councillor. (asianstandard.co.uk)
- Departure: Reform UK expelled Bean in September 2025, amid internal controversy over social media posts and criticism of asylum seeker policy. (asianstandard.co.uk)
- Joining Advance UK: Bean later joined Advance UK, becoming one of the first councillors to switch directly to the fledgling party. (asianstandard.co.uk)
- Comment: Bean said he entered politics to serve his community and felt abandoned by Reform UK after what he viewed as its internal condemnation and reaction to external criticism. (asianstandard.co.uk)
Why It Matters:
Bean’s move highlights how Advance UK is attracting councillors who feel alienated within Reform UK after disputes over content, criticism and how party discipline is applied. (asianstandard.co.uk)
Case Study 3 — Ed Hill and Angela Nash (Devon County Council)
- Council: Devon County Council.
- Cllr Ed Hill: Previously with Reform UK, he was expelled after a campaign letter controversy involving free school meal eligibility, which was attributed to him and others without full party consent. (South Hams Gazette)
- Cllr Angela Nash: Left Reform UK independently, citing a commitment to honesty, integrity and transparency, and later joined Advance UK. (Radio Exe)
- Joining Advance UK: Both Hill and Nash formally became members of Advance UK, giving the party representation on Devon’s largest council. (Radio Exe)
- Comment: Nash has said her decision was based on principles, feeling she could no longer represent constituents under Reform UK’s banner. (Radio Exe)
Why It Matters:
These defections show that Advance UK’s appeal isn’t only among Reform members frustrated by national leadership, but also among local councillors who feel their own values have diverged from their former party. (Radio Exe)
Commentary on the Trend
Party Instability and Internal Tensions
Advance UK’s growth in councillor numbers partly reflects wider internal instability and factional disputes within Reform UK — issues like infighting and disagreements over direction have pushed some councillors to seek a new home. (leftfootforward.org)
Advance UK’s Positioning
- Advance UK markets itself as supporting principle, integrity and democratic accountability, aiming to give councillors “freedom to speak honestly and represent constituents without interference from national party machines.” (News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire)
- Its leader Ben Habib, a former Reform UK deputy, established Advance UK in part to present a new right-wing force that differs from what he views as Reform’s centralised control and personality politics. (Politics.co.uk)
Public and Political Reaction
Opinions vary: some observers see these defections as evidence that local representatives want more autonomy and clearer principles; others see them as fragmentation on the right that could split votes and weaken electoral prospects for Reform and similar parties. (GB News)
Summary — Key Insights
| Councillor | Former Party | New Party (Advance UK) | Reason/Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desmond “Des” Watt (Cambridgeshire) | Reform UK → Independent | Advance UK | Wanted principle-led representation and local accountability. (News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire) |
| Paul Bean (Durham) | Reform UK | Advance UK | Expelled; felt abandoned over internal disputes and policy criticism. (asianstandard.co.uk) |
| Ed Hill & Angela Nash (Devon) | Reform UK | Advance UK | Left Reform amid internal controversies/discipline issues; aligned with Advance UK’s ethos. (South Hams Gazette) |
What It Means
Advance UK’s gains of former Reform councillors show:
- A political realignment on the right, with some local representatives rejecting Reform UK’s structure or leadership. (Wikipedia)
- Emergence of Advance UK as a visible alternative in local councils across England. (Wikipedia)
- Increasing importance of local political dynamics and personal principles in councillors’ decisions to change party affiliation. (News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire)