Cornwall Councillor Resigns From Reform UK to Join Restore Britain Party

A Cornwall Council member has resigned from Reform UK and joined a rival party, citing concerns about the direction of the party and interference in local politics.

Roger Tarrant, Deputy Group Leader for Reform UK at Cornwall Council, announced today that he is stepping down from his role and leaving the party with immediate effect. He will be joining the Restore Britain Party, led by Rupert Lowe.

Why He Left

In his statement, Roger says that since standing as a Reform UK candidate in the last General Election, the party has shifted noticeably closer to Conservative Party policy, while his own position has remained unchanged.

He points to a series of internal issues he says have damaged the party’s standing in Cornwall, including the dismantling of local branches, the appointment of unelected interim officers, and volunteer County Organisers acting without consulting elected Reform councillors. Roger says this interference in Council business has led to the “disillusionment and departure of members.”

He also criticises Reform UK’s approach to candidate selection, saying the party “continues to recruit politicians from other parties” rather than allowing talent to rise on merit, describing those parties as ones that “have failed the people of this country over the past 20 years.”

Concerns raised by members, activists, and group leaders, he says, have not been adequately addressed by the party’s leadership.

What Happens Next

As a result of his decision, Roger is also withdrawing his application to stand as a parliamentary candidate for Reform UK, saying it “no longer aligns with my values.”

He says his priority remains representing the residents of Redruth North and promoting accountability and transparency in his role as County Councillor. He added that he looks forward to working with Rupert and Restore Britain to support Cornwall and the country.

Restore Britain is a party that emerged, according to Roger, in direct response to Reform UK’s shift in direction and its candidate selection process.