Independent RBWM councillor defects to Reform UK

A Royal Borough councillor representing Datchet, Horton and Wraysbury has defected to Reform UK.

Former chairman of the Borough First Independent party, David Buckley, has joined the party led by Nigel Farage.

Councillor Buckley has represented the ward since 2023 and said the current two-party system has completely abandoned the people, and ‘Reform UK is our last chance’. 

"I've joined Reform because our country needs change, and only Reform offers the hope of change,” he added.

“Successive Conservative and Labour governments have let our people down and shattered local councils across the country.

“With Reform, we can bring growth back to our economy, tackle the cost-of-living crisis, and ensure people's voices are heard.”

The Borough First Independents was set up in 2018 to support ‘community-focused’ councillors without allegiances to national political parties.

A rift emerged in January when several councillors announced their resignation on social media, accusing the party of ‘departing from its core values’.

Remaining party member, Councillor Buckley, accused councillors of shifting towards ‘party-aligned politics, contradicting our core principle of putting residents before politics’.

He previously said the resignations revealed a division within the independent group, with ‘individuals prioritising party agendas over serving the community’.

Councillor Buckley said about his defection: “Our Lib Dem council, as well as consecutive Conservative leaderships, have failed to listen to our residents and prioritise their needs.

“Reform UK has emerged as a powerful force in British Politics, and we are here to stay.

“Residents finally have the choice to abandon the system, which has failed them for so long.

“I can better represent my residents from a party that people believe in and focuses on success. Reform UK does not accept failure as the norm.”

A Reform UK spokesman added: “We’re delighted David has joined us. As a successful businessman and committed public servant, he is deeply focused on what’s best for the people of Windsor and Maidenhead.

“David will take on the role of Windsor branch chair, a key position in organising party activities, where he is sure to excel.”