Nigel Farage welcomes first Labour defector to Reform UK | EUROtoday

Nigel Farage has secured his first Labour defector as a borough councillor grew to become the primary to desert Sir Keir Starmer’s celebration for Reform UK.

In a big shift, Mason Humberstone grew to become the primary Labour politician to leap ship to the rebel right-wing celebration.

His defection follows a sequence of Labour councillors becoming a member of the Green Party or switching to a pro-Gaza unbiased ticket. And it follows a slew of former and present Tory MPs and councillors becoming a member of Mr Farage’s ranks.

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Labour has up to now disregarded its personal left-wing defectors in addition to mocking Reform for accepting so lots of what its MPs take into account to be failed former Tories.

But the primary defection of an elected Labour consultant to the celebration will spark fears there are extra to come back.

Mr Humberstone was elected to characterize Old Town ward in Stevenage in May 2023 and is now the one Reform member sitting on the Labour-run authority.

His defection can even elevate fears in Labour HQ as “Stevenage Woman” – a socially conservative, non-radical feminine voter who has backed the Conservatives prior to now – has beforehand been one of many key demographics the celebration has chased to construct a successful electoral coalition.

Announcing his defection on Wednesday, Mr Humberstone stated the celebration he beforehand supported was “lost, without vision” and “mired in scandal”.

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Labour’s Stevenage MP Kevin Bonavia stated he was “deeply disappointed” within the transfer, whereas council chief Richard Henry accused Mr Humberstone of “jumping ship for personal and political gain” and referred to as for a by-election.

Explaining his choice, the councillor stated: “I’ve battled with this decision for some time. But deep down, I know it’s the right call.

“It is not odd, hardworking individuals in Stevenage and throughout our nation who’ve left Labour – Labour has left us.

“The party I joined is lost, without vision, mired in scandal, and too often speaking for a metropolitan elite rather than the people they’re meant to serve.”

Reform UK chief Nigel Farage stated the transfer confirmed his celebration was “winning the support of young people from across the political landscape”.

It follows the defections this week of ex-health minister Maria Caulfield and sitting Conservative MP and shadow minister Danny Kruger.

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Mr Bonavia, who was elected as Stevenage MP in 2024, stated: “I am deeply disappointed in Cllr Humberstone for defecting to another party who thrive on fear and division and have no practical solutions for our country’s future.”

He urged Mr Humberstone to “do the right thing” and resign to hunt a contemporary mandate in a brand new election, including: “I will not be distracted by political opportunism as I continue to focus on working day and night to secure positive changes for our town and villages as our local MP.”

Council chief Mr Henry stated: “I made every attempt, above and beyond what would be considered reasonable, to accommodate and mentor Cllr Humberstone as he brought many challenges to the table in terms of his attendance, punctuality, adherence to commitments, dedication to the role and much more.”

He stated Mr Humberstone had “jumped ship with no fair warning for personal and political gain” after being given “so many chances and opportunities to improve his conduct” and may face a by-election.

In the final yr, Mr Humberstone has been to 10 of the 33 council and committee conferences he was anticipated to attend.

A neighborhood Labour supply stated: “Mason showed a lot of promise and potential when he joined the Labour Party, but the reality is he fell extremely below the mark.”

He is the primary sitting Labour councillor in England to change to Mr Farage’s celebration, following former Scottish Labour councillor Jamie McGuire’s transfer earlier this yr.

Mr Farage stated: “I am delighted Cllr Mason Humberstone has joined us from Labour.

“He is placing nation earlier than celebration and we warmly welcome him to Reform.

“We are winning the support of young people from across the political landscape.”