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Councillors desert Tories and defect to Reform UK

Jennie AitkenBBC Stoke and Staffordshire political reporter, Stoke-on-Trent
News imageStoke-on-Trent City Council Dr Chandra Kanneganti wears a pale blue suit with a stripy blue and red tie. He is smiling, and posing next to the canal in Stoke-on-Trent, with a narrow boat in the background, along with waterside properties. Stoke-on-Trent City Council
Ex-Conservative Dr Chandra Kanneganti, who represents Goldenhill and Sandyford, said he was excited to be part of a movement that challenges complacency

Two Stoke-on-Trent city councillors have deserted the Conservatives to become part of the latest wave of 20 nationally in defecting to Reform UK.

Reform now have four out of the 44 seats on the authority, which has been Labour-led since 2023.

Dr Chandra Kanneganti defected straight from the Tories, whilst councillor Heather Blurton left the party in November to become an independent, before now joining Reform.

Lorraine Beardmore, leader of Stoke-on-Trent Conservatives, said Kanneganti's decision came as a shock and described the move as "disappointing".

However, Kanneganti said he was excited to be part of a movement that "challenges complacency".

"The country needs honest, practical politics that put people first rather than protecting a failing status quo," he said.

News imageStoke-on-Trent city council Heather Blurton stands in front of bottle kilns, she has long blonde, straight hair and is smiling at the camera. Stoke-on-Trent city council
Councillor Heather Blurton represents the Bucknall and Eaton Park ward and said she had now joined Reform UK after "being part of the failing Conservative Party for too long"

The defections follow that of other local ex-Tories, including deputy chair of the Conservative party Jonathan Gullis, who joined Reform UK last month.

A few weeks prior to that Daniel Jellyman, who was the Conservative group leader on Stoke-on-Trent City Council, joined Reform UK and became the party's leader on the council.

Back in May 2025, Reform UK gained its first seat on the city council after councillor Luke Shenton won a by-election.

Blurton, who respresents Bucknall and Eaton Park, said she had left the Conservatives as she felt the party was "failing" and had "let Britain down".

'Party will rebuild Britain'

She believes Reform UK is "the only party serious about putting family, community, country and our city first".

Kanneganti has worked for the NHS for 26 years and runs three GP practices in the city.

On his defection, he said: "For too long, the main parties have talked about change while delivering very little.

"Everyday concerns such as the cost of living, pressure on public services, immigration, and value for taxpayers' money are not being addressed with the seriousness they deserve."

Beardmore said Kanneganti would be missed as a Conservative councillor and thanked him for his service.

A Reform spokesperson said both councillors would make excellent additions to the party.

"We are beyond proud to welcome them to the expanding number of councillors flocking to the party which will rebuild Britain," they said.

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