Conservative Calderdale councillor defects to Reform UK
Peter Hunt represents Elland ward and was elected as a Conservative in 2024.
A Conservative councillor in Calderdale has left the party to join Reform UK.
Coun Peter Hunt represents Elland ward and was elected as a Conservative in 2024.
Commenting following his defection, Coun Hunt said: “I came into local politics to make a practical difference for the people of Elland, and that has always guided how I’ve worked as a councillor.
“Since being elected, I’ve worked hard on my own for residents across the ward, often achieving real results locally.
“But I’ve also become increasingly frustrated by a council system that too often moves slowly, avoids difficult decisions, and fails to deliver the progress our communities deserve,” he said.
Coun Hunt said he felt Calderdale needed “a new approach”.
“Not failed leadership, ineffectual opposition or more point-scoring or party politics, but honesty about the challenges we face and the courage to tackle them.
“I have been involved in politics for many years, and it is now apparent Labour and the Conservatives have lost their way.
“They can no longer deliver what the British people need and want
“I believe Reform UK offers that fresh approach.
“They are willing to speak plainly about issues that matter to residents – including pressures on public services, the cost of living, and the need for a council that focuses relentlessly on delivery rather than process,” he said.
Coun Hunt said he shared Reform’s emphasis on “family, community and country, and their belief that local people should be listened to, not managed from above.”
“I look forward to joining a team that I believe has the energy, ideas and determination to bring positive change to Elland and across the borough,” he said.
Coun Hunt, who has had a long career as a civil servant, has lived in Calderdale for two decades with his wife and daughter.
Welcoming Coun Hunt, a Reform UK spokesman said: “Peter is an excellent addition to Reform UK and the expanding number of councillors in Calderdale – we look forward to the change that he and the other council members will bring to the community.”
Coun Hunt’s defection brings Reform UK’s number of Calderdale councillors up to three.