Nigel Farage's prophecy of a dominant force for Reform UK in Cornwall politics has turned into a chaotic reality, as the party struggles with internal infighting and resignations. Just three months after claiming victory in local elections, where they won 28 seats on the council, Reform UK now holds 23 – less than their pre-election numbers.
Critics argue that this downfall is not an isolated incident for Reform UK, citing similar chaos at Kent council under a similar leadership. The party's presence has been further eroded by a series of high-profile departures, including the resignation of former leader Rob Parsonage and deputy leader Rowland O'Connor. The two key figures cited interference from national figures within the party as contributing factors to their decision.
O'Connor, who won 16.5% of the vote in North Cornwall last year's general election, stepped down not only as deputy but also from Reform UK itself due to what he described as a "national agenda prioritisation." This echoed Parsonage's concerns about being ordered to "put motions in to scrap all net-zero target-related matters" via WhatsApp instructions.
Their departures have been met with the establishment of the Cornish Independent Non-aligned Group, formed by O'Connor and Parsonage alongside two other former Reform councillors. Meanwhile, Paul Ashton has taken over as leader, rejecting comments that local councillors must focus on national policies, such as immigration and net zero, rather than prioritising issues affecting Cornish voters.
Leadership within Reform UK is marred by controversy. Curtis Mellows, the then chair of the party's south-east branch, called Parsonage an "odious little man" online, criticizing his leadership qualities. Mellows himself has since been suspended from the party after making allegedly offensive comments about Prince Harry in a social media post.
The situation remains tense with Reform UK continuing to experience internal infighting and departures. The recently appointed deputy leader, Roger Tarrant, was removed as chair of a local branch against members' wishes, sparking criticism that his removal was an attempt to silence dissenting voices within the party.
Critics argue that this downfall is not an isolated incident for Reform UK, citing similar chaos at Kent council under a similar leadership. The party's presence has been further eroded by a series of high-profile departures, including the resignation of former leader Rob Parsonage and deputy leader Rowland O'Connor. The two key figures cited interference from national figures within the party as contributing factors to their decision.
O'Connor, who won 16.5% of the vote in North Cornwall last year's general election, stepped down not only as deputy but also from Reform UK itself due to what he described as a "national agenda prioritisation." This echoed Parsonage's concerns about being ordered to "put motions in to scrap all net-zero target-related matters" via WhatsApp instructions.
Their departures have been met with the establishment of the Cornish Independent Non-aligned Group, formed by O'Connor and Parsonage alongside two other former Reform councillors. Meanwhile, Paul Ashton has taken over as leader, rejecting comments that local councillors must focus on national policies, such as immigration and net zero, rather than prioritising issues affecting Cornish voters.
Leadership within Reform UK is marred by controversy. Curtis Mellows, the then chair of the party's south-east branch, called Parsonage an "odious little man" online, criticizing his leadership qualities. Mellows himself has since been suspended from the party after making allegedly offensive comments about Prince Harry in a social media post.
The situation remains tense with Reform UK continuing to experience internal infighting and departures. The recently appointed deputy leader, Roger Tarrant, was removed as chair of a local branch against members' wishes, sparking criticism that his removal was an attempt to silence dissenting voices within the party.
... they're just making it impossible for themselves to actually be effective in governance. It's like, can't they just put their differences aside and work together? All these internal power struggles are gonna hurt their chances of achieving real change in Cornwall politics 
. And seriously, what's with all the resignations? It feels like they're more interested in having a drama-filled party than actually making a difference 
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. All that noise about "taking back control" and "British nationalism"... seems like just a bunch of hot air now. These guys were all about being anti-establishment, but it looks like they got in over their heads 
. I mean, 28 seats on the council? Not bad, but not exactly rocket science either... Guess you could say they're redefining what "dominant force" means 
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. The establishment of that new group, led by O'Connor and Parsonage, seems like a pretty clear attempt to shake things up and find a more local, independent voice.
. The situation remains super tense, with people being suspended and removed from their positions for speaking out against the leadership. It's a tough time for Reform UK, that's for sure 
. Can't help but wonder if Farage's vision is just a bunch of hot air. And what's with the WhatsApp orders? Sounds like they're more interested in toeing national party lines than listening to their constituents' concerns 
. First, they're saying one thing, then they're doing another. It's like they're trying to keep everyone guessing. And now, they've got this whole leadership drama going on... who's really in charge? 
What does any of this have to do with the party's policies?
I don't know, but my gut tells me that Reform UK is in for some more shake-ups soon. Stay tuned, folks! 
. It seems like they've got some major internal struggles going on 
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. He seems to be trying to steer the party back on track by focusing on local issues 
, but it's tough when you've got so much infighting going on 
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️? One thing's for sure, though – the people of Cornwall deserve better representation 
. I mean, who orders someone to scrap net-zero targets via WhatsApp? 
. The new leader Paul Ashton is trying to shake things up but it's hard to see how they'll regain credibility 
, maybe this is a sign of Reform UK's decline? 
! I mean, they were supposed to be all powerful in Cornwall but now it's like total chaos 
. And can you believe those high-profile departures? Like, who quits a party over WhatsApp messages? 
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. It's like Reform UK can't seem to get its act together and it's causing all this drama 
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! Maybe they need to take a step back, regroup, and figure out what's really important for their voters 
. I guess this is just another reminder that reforming politics can be tough and messy 
... internal infighting, resignations, and now another group forming against them 
Not surprising at all, more proof of a toxic culture 
And what's up with Paul Ashton wanting everyone to focus on national policies? Doesn't he know the people voted for them because they care about Cornish issues? 
reform uk thought they were invincible after those crazy elections last year but it looks like their house of cards is starting to crumble 
. And honestly, who needs a party where everyone is constantly drama-queening 
? It's just going to make them look even more like the " establishment" party that people claim they're against 
. I'm starting to think that Reform UK is more of a hindrance than a help to Cornwall politics 
how do they even plan on turning this around? 
. It's like a big ol' diagram with too many tangled lines - can't see where they're supposed to be headed 
. They gotta focus on what matters most to the people, not just chasing after national policies 
, hope he can bring some stability to the party 
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