Councillor quits Reform over 'bullying and sexism'

A Reform UK county councillor in Staffordshire has defected to the Conservative Party, citing as reasons for her move her experience of bullying and sexism within Reform.

Charlotte Kelly was one of the 49 Reform councillors elected when the party took control of the authority in May 2025.

The 31-year-old, a previous Conservative member before her election, said her decision to rejoin the Tories was based on a "period of reflection" about her future.

The Leek rural councillor added she wanted to expose her experience of bullying and sexism. A spokesperson for Reform said in response that Kelly had been "a source of ongoing disharmony within the group".

"Unfortunately, as a member of the Reform group I have experienced bullying and sexism on a regular basis," Kelly said.

"Reform's leadership has not been willing to deal with the issue and this has made it impossible for me to continue as a member of that group."

She went on to describe herself as a "traditional Conservative" and she felt the party, under the leadership of Kemi Badenoch, was her "natural home".

The Reform spokesperson said: "It comes as no surprise that councillor Kelly has left Reform UK. She has been a source of ongoing disharmony within the group and is currently subject to a formal complaint.

"It is regrettable that she has chosen to defect to a party with a dire track record of mismanagement in Staffordshire - one that has driven the council into hundreds of millions of pounds of debt through reckless and uncontrolled spending."

The leader of the Conservative Group on Staffordshire County Council, Philip White, said Kelly had been welcomed back into the party.

"Charlotte is a dedicated and hardworking councillor who has always put her residents first," he added.

White went on to say that, since Kelly had spoken openly about the "difficulties" she had faced as a Reform member, the Tory group were "happy to offer support to other members of the county council Reform group on a confidential basis if they are experiencing difficulties".

Reform won 49 out of the 62 county council seats in 2025.

One seat was lost in a by-election with another by the defection of Kelly.

Three others are now independent, including former leader Ian Cooper who stood down after his Reform membership was revoked.

Two other Reform councillors left the party following their views, and social media activity coming under scrutiny.

Later this month there will be a by-election in the Stretton ward to replace Barry Martin.

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