Yet more Reform councillors jump ship in Cornwall

Scrutiny of Reform’s adventures in local government have focused on Kent – where two councillors were expelled from the party today for bringing it into “disrepute” – but there are further shenanigans way out west.

Last weekend, the Reform’s former lesder on Cornwall Council quit the party along with two other councillors. Rob Parsonage resigned from Nigel Farage’s mob along with Christine Parsonage – his wife – and Anna Thomason-Kenyon. They will now join forces with the party’s former deputy leader on the council, Rowland O’Connor, and fellow ex-Reformer Karen Knight, both of whom quit the party last week, to form the breakaway Cornish Independent Nonaligned Group.

O’Connor stepped down initially to become an independent, telling local meda just five months after being elected as a Reform candidate that “remaining within the party was limiting my ability to speak and act freely for our community” and that he could now serve “without party influence”.

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Rob Parsonage, meanwhile, initially only stepped down as Reform leader, remaining within the party, before deciding to ditch that too. His resignation followed public criticism from the former chairman of the South East Cornwall branch of Reform, Curt Mellows, who told local media that Parsonage “possesses neither the intellect nor leadership qualities, or indeed any charisma at all, required for this important role”.

Parsonage’s wife Christine is currently absent from the council on a period of special leave until December. Earlier this year she faced criticism from Newquay councillors for not attending meetings – which she has justified by saying she was busy – and has also faced criticism for living 45 miles away from the area she represents on Cornwall Council.

It all looks like another embarrassing disaster for the party, but Reform itself is unperturbed. “Whilst we are disappointed by the resignations, we wish the councillors all the best for the future and look forward to working closely with them in Lys Kernow [New County Hall],” says a statement. Nothing to see here!