Ex-Tory becomes Dudley's first Reform UK councillor
A former Tory councillor who quit the party citing its 'extreme' policy on immigration has joined Reform UK.
Councillor Shaun Keasey, who quit the Conservatives in October 2023, has become the party's first member of Dudley Council.
Councillor Keasey has represented Sedgley ward, traditionally seen as a safe Conservative seat, since 2018. However he stood as an independent at last year's 'all up' local elections, and was successfully re-elected.
His announcement follows the defection of former Dudley North Conservative MP Marco Longhi, who joined Reform after losing his seat at last year's general election.
Mr Longhi said Councillor Keasey's defection represented history being made.
"Welcoming Counciillor Shaun Keasey to Reform UK in Dudley," he posted on Facebook.
"The first, but not the last, many more to come."
Mr Longhi said the party would become a force to be reckoned with at next year's local elections, when a third of Dudley's 72 councillors will be up for re-election.
Councillor Keasey, who had previously also been a member of the UK Independence Party, heavily criticised Conservative leadership both nationally and locally when he resigned from the party.
"I would venture so far to label them, in my opinion, as becoming extreme," he said.
"We're now hearing these increasingly disturbing comments about immigration."
He cited former Home Secretary Suella Braverman's statement that being gay was not a reason to grant political asylum.
Councillor Keasey was also critical of Councillor Patrick Harley's leadership of Dudley Council.
The Conservatives now have 35 seats on Dudley Council, Labour 24, the Black Country Party six, the Liberal Democrats five, Reform one and a single independent.
