Reform UK lose third member on Sheffield City Council as he refuses to join party

A Sheffield Reform UK councillor has been removed from the city council group by the party because they say he is not a member.

A Reform UK spokesman said in a press statement: “Councillor Robert Hanson has had the Reform whip removed after it was discovered that he was not a party member.

“Despite being given repeated opportunities to join the party by email and telephone, he refused to do so.”

Removing the whip means Coun Hanson no longer has party backing.

Coun Hanson was elected to the Firth Park ward in the council on May 7 this year. He topped the poll with 1,442 votes and council leader Coun Fran Belbin came second with 1,352 votes.

There were two vacant seats in the ward because Labour councillor Nikki Belfield resigned her seat before the election.

Reform UK took 12 seats in May to take their total number to 13.

However, today’s announcement means that they are now down to 10 members.

Woodhouse ward councillor Nathaniel Menday was suspended for far right social media posts and Mick Lee of Shiregreen and Brightside ward resigned from the party, both shortly after the election.

They now sit as independent councillors.

There have also been rows in the party locally around a decision to merge the two city branches into one. Some members made complaints to the party’s national leadership.

There have been reports of acrimonious meetings, with anger from some members apparently directed towards council group leader Coun John Hesketh.

Reform UK remain the fourth biggest group on the council. As the council is under no overall control, it is run jointly by the Labour and Green Party groups. Labour have 25 councillors and the Green Party have 20.

The LibDems are the second largest group with 22 members. They went into opposition after the elections because they are against building on the green belt.

Coun Hanson had served as the Reform spokesperson for the adult health and social care policy committee.

The party’s decision does not mean there will automatically be a third by-election – there are two coming up in Southey and Walkley wards.

Coun Hanson is entitled to continue to serve as an independent.

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