Reform councillor defects to Conservatives

Warrington's only Reform councillor has defected to the Conservatives, and said his former party had deemed the council's financial issues as "not a priority".

John Roddy was elected as a Reform councillor at a by-election in August 2025.

He said he had raised "detailed concerns" with Reform about Warrington's ongoing financial issues, but emails had gone unanswered and the lack of focus on the town's "most pressing issues is disappointing".

Reform said John Roddy was expelled from the party after it "came to the party's attention that he aimed to intentionally damage the interests of Reform UK".

Warrington Council is led by Labour, with the Liberal Democrats as the opposition.

Roddy's defection gives the Conservatives two councillors on the authority.

The authority has faced significant financial challenges in recent years.

It built up £1.8bn debt as a result of its commercial strategy, which led to the government intervening into the council last summer.

Warrington has now said its commercial strategy has "failed" and a number of cuts are planned in its upcoming budget.

It has also received permission from the government to increase council tax by 7.5%.

John Roddy said there had been "no serious engagement" from Reform about the scale of Warrington's financial position "or a credible local strategy to address it".

"Reform lacks a credible team structure. They have headlines but no detailed local policy and no serious local economic plan," he said.

Warrington Conservative leader Rob Tynan said Roddy's defection had "shown integrity and seriousness in recognising the scale of Warrington's financial challenges and the need for a credible alternative opposition to the Liberal Democrats".

"Holding a complex local authority like Warrington Borough Council to account requires detailed financial scrutiny, sustained policy work and a disciplined team. That is what both John and I will provide," he said.

"John understands that Warrington needs robust challenge and a credible recovery plan, not protest politics.

After being asked for their response to John Roddy's comments about Reform, the party said he had been expelled last week.

"Councillor Roddy has been expelled from Reform UK with immediate effect after it came to the party's attention that he aimed to intentionally damage the interests of Reform UK," a spokesperson said.

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