The Defection: Ex‑Reform UK Councillor Joins Advance UK
Who defected:
A Doncaster councillor, Nicola Brown, resigned from Reform UK and joined the newly formed political party Advance UK in December 2025. Advance UK was officially registered on 4 December 2025 and describes itself as a new political force distinct from the traditional parties and also setting itself apart from Reform UK’s direction. (The Daily Britain)
Which party she defected to:
- Advance UK — a newly established party led by Ben Habib, the former Deputy Leader of Reform UK. It was launched in late 2025 after internal disagreements within Reform and positions itself as a movement that offers an alternative right‑wing platform. (Wikipedia)
Context of the move:
Brown’s resignation followed ongoing tensions within Reform UK over local policy direction and internal party discipline. In particular, she says she resigned because she was pressured to vote for a significant £57 million borrowing package for Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) — a step she felt violated her conscience, as she believed the financial risks were too great and that alternative funding avenues should be explored first. (The Daily Britain)
Reasons Given by the Councillor
In her statement, Brown said her decision was about serving her constituents freely rather than following what she described as strict party directives from Reform UK. She specifically criticised being told to support a major council borrowing plan under threat of losing the party whip, saying the move compromised her ability to represent local priorities in favour of national political strategy.
Brown suggested Advance UK offered a structure where she could act more independently and in line with her principles — particularly on matters affecting her local community — rather than being constrained by a larger party’s line. (The Daily Britain)
Advance UK leaders welcomed her, emphasising that principled representation and freedom of conscience were central to their identity as a new party. (The Daily Britain)
What Is Advance UK?
Advance UK is a newly registered political party in the United Kingdom, formed in December 2025. It was founded by Ben Habib, a former Deputy Leader of Reform UK, following disagreements with the leadership of Reform, including Nigel Farage. The party positions itself on the right of the UK political spectrum and aims to distinguish its platform from both Reform UK and the mainstream Conservative Party. (Wikipedia)
Key aspects of Advance UK include:
- Leadership: Led by Ben Habib with an organisational committee intended to guide policy and strategy. (Wikipedia)
- Ideology: Far‑right positioning, described as a breakaway from Reform and aiming to offer a different model of right‑wing politics in Britain. (Wikipedia)
- Growth: The party claims substantial membership (e.g., tens of thousands shortly after launch) and seeks to expand its representation beyond the initial cadre of councillors. (Wikipedia)
Political and Local Impact
Impact on Reform UK
Reform UK has seen multiple councillors defect or resign over the past year across various councils — some moving to other parties or sitting as independents — reflecting internal strain and differing priorities among its elected representatives. (Politics Home)
The defection of Brown highlights broader internal debates within Reform about how tied councillors should be to national policy versus local autonomy. Other Reform figures have also left the party or faced disputes over voting direction and party discipline. (GB News)
What Advance UK’s Emergence Means
The rise of Advance UK reinforces narratives about fragmentation on the right of UK politics, where dissatisfaction with both the Conservatives and Reform is producing splinter movements. Political commentators note that these shifts could reshape local political balances, especially in councils where margins are close and by‑elections could be triggered by further defections. (The Daily Britain)
Commentary & Reactions
Supporters’ View
Supporters of Brown’s decision and of Advance UK celebrate the move as an effort to “put local constituents first” and break from national party rigidity. They claim that **new movements are necessary”, either to represent neglected concerns — such as city infrastructure, transparent local finance, and community priorities — or to push back against what they view as entrenched party politics.
Criticism and Skepticism
Critics argue that defections like Brown’s can undermine party coherence and electoral mandates since councillors were elected under one banner and shift to another without a fresh mandate. Local rivals have called for by‑elections in some cases, saying voters deserve a chance to re‑endorse councillors under their new affiliation. Others view the growth of new fringe parties as potentially splintering votes on the right and advantage larger parties in general elections.
Political analysts also warn that proliferation of small parties can lead to fragmentation that complicates coalition‑building in local councils and national elections.
Summary
- A Reform UK councillor in Doncaster, Nicola Brown, defected to Advance UK, a newly formed right‑wing political party launched in December 2025. (The Daily Britain)
- Brown cited principle and conscience, especially over local financial decisions and party discipline, as her motivation. (The Daily Britain)
- Advance UK presents itself as an alternative to both Reform UK and the Conservative Party, advocating more autonomy for local representatives and a distinct ideological stance. (Wikipedia)
- This defection illustrates growing fluidity in UK party politics, particularly on the right, where established parties face internal challenges and new movements seek footholds.
- Here’s a case‑study and commentary breakdown of the recent political defection of a former Reform UK councillor to a newly formed party, placed in the wider context of defections and internal shifts within Reform UK and UK politics:
Case Study 1 — Nicola Brown: Reform UK Councillor Defects to Advance UK
What Happened
Councillor Nicola Brown of Doncaster City Council quit Reform UK and defected to Advance UK — a new political party launched in December 2025 by former Reform UK deputy leader Ben Habib. This marked one of the first high‑profile moves from Reform to a newly formed party. (The Daily Britain)
Why She Left
Brown said her departure was driven by principle, particularly over local decision‑making. She criticised Reform UK’s leadership for pressuring councillors to back a £57 million borrowing plan for Doncaster Sheffield Airport, claiming they were told to vote yes or risk losing the party whip. She stated that this undermined her ability to serve her constituents freely. (The Daily Britain)
What Advance UK Represents
- Advance UK was officially registered on 4 December 2025 and positions itself as a “movement Reform should have been”, focused on local autonomy and different leadership style.
- It is backed by prominent figures including Ben Habib and controversially Tommy Robinson (prominent right‑wing commentator), indicating a bid to attract voters and politicians disaffected with mainstream and existing right‑wing parties. (The Daily Britain)
Commentary:
Brown’s narrative underlines a recurring theme in local politics: councillors sometimes feel national party pressure can conflict with local representation. Her move illustrates how internal disagreements over policy and party discipline can fuel defections, especially where local finance or development projects are controversial.
Case Study 2 — Patterns of Defections In and Out of Reform UK
Internal Strains within Reform UK
Analysis shows Reform UK has lost a notable number of its councillors since the 2025 local elections — with exits due to suspensions, resignations or moves to other parties or independent status. As of late 2025, the party had shrunk from 677 councillors to around 651, with various causes including disciplinary issues and personal disagreements with party direction. (Politics Home)
Examples Include:
- A Cornwall Council deputy chair resigned and sat as an independent after saying his views diverged from the party’s direction. (GB News)
- Multiple councillors in Cornwall left to form a breakaway independent group, weakening Reform’s position on that council. (Reddit)
Commentary:
This pattern suggests that some elected Reform councillors find national party expectations and local realities difficult to reconcile, particularly when party positions shift rapidly or discipline becomes a flashpoint.
Case Study 3 — Broader Defection Trends in UK Local Politics
Defections as a Wider Political Feature
While Nicola Brown’s defection is notable for moving to a brand new party, other councillors have defected between established parties:
- Some Reform councillors have defected to the Conservatives, citing discomfort with Reform’s hardline policies — such as immigration stances — and concern about wider party direction. (The Guardian)
- Councillors elected as Reform have tried shifting to Labour or other group alignments, reflecting internal ideological friction. (Nation.Cymru)
Commentary:
These examples show how councillors’ decisions to change party affiliation often reflect a mix of ideological disagreement, local political strategy, and personality conflicts, not just national party branding.
Reactions & Commentary
Supportive Views
- Supporters of Brown’s move see it as an assertion of local principle over party discipline, arguing that councillors should be free to act based on constituents’ interests rather than rigid national party lines.
- Advance UK leaders have framed her defection as evidence of growing appetite for a different type of right‑of‑centre politics that emphasises grass‑roots representation. (The Daily Britain)
Criticism & Skepticism
- Critics argue defections — particularly to new or fringe parties — can undermine electoral mandates, as councillors were elected under one party’s banner and then switch allegiances without a fresh vote from constituents.
- Some observers worry that emerging parties like Advance UK might fragment the centre‑right and conservative vote, benefitting larger parties like Labour or the Conservatives at elections.
Political Analyst Commentary
Political analysts note that Reform UK has seen an “unusual and rapidly growing” rate of councillor loss in the months after its local election successes, including expulsions, resignations, and defections — showing how new and rapidly expanding parties often face internal cohesion challenges. (Politics Home)
Summary of Key Lessons
Insight Interpretation Defections reflect internal tension Councillors often leave due to disagreements with national leadership or local policy conflict. Local vs. national priorities Conflicts over specific votes (e.g., finance decisions) can prompt councillors to reassess party allegiance. Emergence of new parties The creation of Advance UK indicates ideological fluidity on the right of UK politics. Electoral mandate concerns Moves to new parties raise questions about voter expectations and democratic representation.