A COUNCILLOR elected to represent Reform UK on Worcestershire County Council has quit the party to go independent.
Coun Matthew Jones, who represents Kidderminster – St John’s, said that, while he still supported Reform UK’s aims and objectives nationally, he was fed up with the ‘mind games and playground antics’ at a local level.
For that reason, he has joined the Worcestershire Independents Group launched last week. That was started by Coun Ashley Monk who was suspended by Reform UK last week and Coun David Taylor. Coun Monk had just been elected to represent Reform UK on Redditch Borough Council to go with his Worcestershire County Council seat
In a statement on his Facebook page, Coun Jones said: “I came into politics to help Worcestershire and to try and make a genuine difference for the people who live here.
“I wasn’t born into politics. I’m not a career politician. I’m a local businessman, born and raised in Kidderminster, who stepped forward because I genuinely care about our area and our future.
“But since entering politics, I’ve realised far too much of it is playground antics, point scoring, egos and political games.
“That’s not why I got involved.
“The public don’t care about the drama behind closed doors. They care about roads, services, value for money, safety, opportunities for their children and having councillors who actually listen.
“I’ll continue to speak honestly, stand up for local people and focus on what really matters doing the best for Worcestershire and the people who call it home.”
New arrival welcomed
Coun Jones’ arrival brings the number on Worcestershire Independents Group to four and Coun Taylor said he ‘expected further growth’.
Coun Taylor said he brought a willingness to listen, a deep passion for his local area and a relentless drive to help those in need.
“I know Matthew well. He will add genuine value to the group and, like the rest of us, is determined to remove the political circus from local government so we can focus on the job in front of us.”
It has been a tumultuous week for Worcestershire County Council. At the meeting to vote in the new leader, Reform UK’s Coun Alan Amos was expected to be elected. But the Green and Independent alliance group leader, Coun Matt Jenkins, was voted in by other parties.
Coun Jenkins was nominated by Liberal Democrat leader, Coun Dan Boatright-Green and was seconded by Conservative, Coun Adam Kent. The council’s top Tory was then subsequently suspended by his party after Reform UK accused the Conservatives of ‘getting into bed with the Greens and Liberals’.
