Ashfield: Reform UK and Conservatives form coalition on District Council

Reform UK have gone into a formal coalition with the Conservatives in Lee Anderson MP’s constituency of Ashfield.

All Ashfield District Councillors have been formally notified of the decision today, leading to criticism from the ruling Ashfield Independents. This is the first formal coalition between Reform UK and the Conservative Party at any level of government in the United Kingdom.

Councillor Dawn Justice, a former Conservative councillor created headlines in November by joining Reform UK. She was pictured with Lee Anderson MP, who said at the time, “The Conservatives are now all but extinct here in Ashfield, and we will replicate this across the country in May 2025.”

Now, Councillor Justice has caused controversy by setting up a formal coalition with Ashfield’s remaining Conservative Councillor, Philip Rostance – who will become Leader of the ‘opposition group’.  Councillor Rostance will receive £5,825 a year for his new role as a result of the coalition.

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Councillor Helen Ann-Smith, Ashfield Independent Deputy Leader of Ashfield District Council said, “Before Christmas, Councillor Dawn Justice left the Conservatives to join Reform UK with great fanfare.

Now, just weeks later she has joined a coalition with the Tories – the first in the UK. Over the past few months, many failed Conservatives have joined Reform, but this is the first coalition and begs the question, what IS the difference between the two? What is clear in Nottinghamshire, is that a vote for Reform is a vote for the Conservatives – they are like 2 peas in a pod. Residents aren’t stupid however and will see right through this baffling decision.”

A Labour Party spokesperson said: “Reform claim to be offering something new to the public, but this backroom deal in Lee Anderson’s Ashfield makes it clear – a vote for Reform is just another vote for the Tories.

“And no-one in this county needs reminding about the damage the Tories have done. We feel it in our pockets, we see it on our streets, in our hospitals. The culmination of 14 years of chaos and decline led by the Conservatives in Downing Street.

“At least both parties have shown their true colours ahead of the local elections on 1^st May. Voters now know the only way to vote for change is to back Labour to run Nottinghamshire County Council.”

The make-up of Councillors at Ashfield District Council is now:

 Ashfield Independents 32

Conservatives / Reform UK (The Opposition Group) 2

Labour 1