Tory councillor and PCC hopeful defects to Reform

Nigel Farage has called on Conservative councillors to join Reform UK

A Conservative councillor has announced his defection to Reform UK.

Robert Potts was elected to Durham County Council in 2021 and this year stood as the Tory candidate for the area's police and crime commissioner (PCC).

In a post on social media he said he was "proud to represent the Reform Party, as their first ever Durham county councillor".

Conservative group leader Richard Bell said he was "disappointed" to lose Potts but declined to comment further.

Potts, who has been contacted for comment, was elected to the Evenwood ward, near Bishop Auckland, in 2021.

Before serving as a police officer with Durham Constabulary he had a military career including service in the Falkland Islands.

He came second to Labour's Joy Allen in May's Durham PCC elections .

In a post on a newly created social media account he said: "As you can see, I've not only moved Facebook pages, I've also moved parties and now represent Reform UK."

In October, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called on Conservative councillors to defect, claiming "a huge number of them genuinely agree with us".

Defections have also taken place from Reform to Conservative amid claims of racism among candidates.

Calls have been made for those who move parties to face by-elections.