St Helens councillor joins Reform UK after leaving the Green Party
Bold and Lea Green ward councillor David Hawley switches party
A St Helens councillor has defected from the Green Party to join Reform UK.
Cllr David Hawley, who represents the Bold and Lea Green ward, announced his decision, saying his views no longer align with those of his former party at either a local or national level.
Born and raised in St Helens, Cllr Hawley has been a resident of Bold since 2008. Outside of his council duties, he works as an assistant engineer manager at a bus depot.
In a statement, Cllr Hawley explained the reasoning behind his decision to switch parties, saying: “Today I am proud to have joined Reform UK after defecting from the Green Party.”
He added, “During my time as a councillor, I have passionately worked alongside the local community to better protect green spaces, improve public transport and engage with local schools.”
Cllr Hawley highlighted his support for Brexit and concerns about immigration as significant factors in his move. He said, “I voted for Brexit to take back control of Britain’s borders and lower immigration, yet the government failed to do so.
“It is time for me to join the party which best represents the views of myself and the people of St Helens in order to act on the improvements I have long strived for.”
Reform UK welcomes new councillor
Cllr Hawley expressed excitement about his new role with Reform UK, stating, “I am excited to be joining an expanding team of Reform UK councillors to really tackle the issues many of the residents have previously raised with me.
“I have lived in St Helens my whole life and I look forward to bringing a brighter and more hopeful future to the town.”
A spokesperson for Reform UK welcomed him to the party, saying: “We are thrilled that David has joined Reform UK from the Green Party. He is a welcome addition to our growing team in St Helens as we prepare for the local elections in May.”
Reform UK is actively expanding its presence in St Helens as part of its readiness for the 2024 local elections.