THURROCK Council may have its second Reform UK councillor following the resignation of a Tilbury councillor from a group of non-aligned councillors.
Tilbury Riverside and Thurrock Park councillor John Allen has left the Non-Political Alliance of Independent Councillors (NPAIC).
It is understood that Cllr Allen has accepted a role as vice-chair of the Thurrock Branch of the Reform party.
Cllr Allen has been a supporter of many of Reform’s policies for some time and has previously campaigned for the group and has made several social media posts backing its views.
The step to becoming a Reform party official at the weekend precipitated his split from the previously eight-strong independent group.
Spokesperson for NPAIC, cllr Neil Speight, (Stanford West) said: “After discussion over the weekend with Cllr John Allen, we have agreed that for the sake of openness and honesty, he will step away from the Non-Political Alliance of Independent Councillors and will stand either as a ‘non aligned’ independent councillor or as a Reform member.
“He has not notified me of his choice but I am sure it will be declared by the council democracy team as soon as they know.
“John clearly supports parts, if not all, of the Reform manifesto and is taking a group role with the party in Thurrock to help promote it.
“That is incongruous with our group constitution of having no political alliance and we feel it best he makes the distinction clear.
“The remaining seven group members will continue to challenge and question the administration of Thurrock Council – and support it where applicable. Our primary aim is effective representation of borough residents, regardless of their race, creed, religion or political affiliation.
“We represent residents and local businesses, not political dogma. Going forward we will be looking how best to present a manifesto for the 2025 local elections that highlights our shared aims of putting people, not politics, first.
“On a personal level I must pay tribute to the hard work Cllr Allen puts in for residents in his ward and above all the passion and commitment he puts into all things Tilbury.
