Former Reform UK leader jumps ship again - to the Tories
Cllr Rob Parsonage will be the councillor for Torpoint after ousting the previous incumbent, John Tivnan, who was the town’s Conservative councillor
The former leader of the Reform UK group at Cornwall Council, who resigned from the party to become deputy leader of the Cornish Independent Non-aligned Group (CING) has jumped ship again … to become a Tory.
In a bizarre turn of events, it will mean that Cllr Rob Parsonage will be Conservative councillor for Torpoint after ousting the division’s previous incumbent, John Tivnan … who was the town’s Conservative councillor.
Mr Tivnan told us that his previous political adversary’s decision to jump ship to the Tories was a “kick in the teeth for the majority of voters in Torpoint”. He added: “I could not trust a man who literally changes with the wind direction.”
Cllr Parsonage was elected as the Reform councillor for Torpoint in May 2025 and served as the leader of the group when it became the largest party on the council.
However, following a series of controversies, which saw a number of Reform councillors resign, Cllr Parsonage jumped ship to form the CING group with Cllr Rowland O’Connor, who had been his Reform deputy.
He has now changed his colours again, with the news that he has joined the Conservative group announced today after we approached the Tories on hearing rumours of Cllr Parsonage’s decision.
Conservative group leader Cllr Connor Donnithorne said: “We welcome Cllr Rob Parsonage to the Conservative group. He brings with him extensive ‘real world’ experience within the UK defence industry and will continue to be an effective, hardworking councillor for Torpoint.
“Rob joining the Conservatives demonstrates that we are a party under new leadership – united and with a clear purpose to lower taxes, support small businesses and get Britain working again.
“Here in the Duchy, we are leading the opposition to the Liberal Democrats. We’ve protected free bus passes. We’re calling out Lib Dem plans to massively hike parking charges and we are a united team focused on making Cornwall an even better place to live, work and raise a family.”
Cllr Parsonage also commented on his move to Cornwall Conservatives: “I resigned as leader of Reform UK Cornwall because they were not serious about delivering change. After months of reflection as an Independent councillor I have decided to join the Conservatives.
“Under Kemi Badenoch’s leadership, I see a changed Conservative Party with a clear purpose: to keep taxes under control, protect frontline services and get Britain working again.
“Locally it is the Conservatives who are leading the opposition to the Liberal Democrats at County Hall and Labour in Westminster. That was clearly demonstrated when Reform UK were silent and failed to table an alternative budget. The Conservatives stepped forward and successfully defended 24/7 free bus passes for Cornish pensioners and disabled residents.
“The Conservative Party is under new leadership. I am proud to be part of their team that will deliver positive change for Cornwall and the rest of the country.”
A member of the public contacted us earlier this week to say rumours were “very strong” that Cllr Rob Parsonage and another councillor, who we have decided not to name, were both “courting the Tories”.
The anonymous constituent said that if Cllr Parsonage was to jump ship again that “surely his credibility is totally shot if he has any left”.
The Cornish resident said Cllr Parsonage’s constituents “didn’t vote Tory, they had enough, and they didn’t vote Independent. How betrayed the constituents must feel. As a constituent, I am not best pleased.”
One of those who is certainly not best pleased with the news is Torpoint’s former Conservative councillor John Tivnan, who Cllr Parsonage ousted last May.
“I always represented the people of Torpoint under the Conservative banner. The last elections were purely on the Conservative banner, but the people of Torpoint decided that Reform could do a better job,” Mr Tivnan told us.
“I accepted that for what it was. The people of Torpoint spoke and therefore I thanked them for the previous four years supporting them and now we have this situation that, quite frankly, is a kick in the teeth for the majority of voters in Torpoint.
“I find it very difficult that Cllr Parsonage puts himself up as the representative for Torpoint. He’s now Conservative this week. Is he going to be Liberal next week? Is he going to be an Independent another week? What’s he going to be?
“It’s alright Conservatives saying ‘we welcome him’ but what are they actually welcoming him for? Is it purely just another hand up at a meeting or what? I could not trust a man who literally changes with the wind direction. That is not right. That is not somebody to represent anybody.”
Mr Tivnan said he was of “two minds” when we asked him if he’d stand against Cllr Parsonage at the next election. “I’d definitely consider it, but I’d like to sound out the people of Torpoint first.”
On welcoming Cllr Parsonage to the fold, Conservative deputy group leader Cllr Martyn Alvey said: “In Cornwall, Reform UK sits as the official opposition at County Hall. They claim ‘shadow cabinet’ titles, but the reality is that they have failed to hold the Liberal Democrats to account.
“Reform UK couldn’t be bothered to table an alternative budget. So when they promised change to the people of Cornwall, Reform voters must surely be asking themselves: what has Reform been doing for nine months?”
Cllr Rowland O’Connor, leader of the CING group, said he wished Cllr Parsonage well.
“Political life involves difficult choices and party affiliation is ultimately a matter for each individual councillor. What matters most is that we all remain focused on delivering for our residents.
“Cllr Parsonage was elected to serve the people of Torpoint and I hope that his new position enables him to continue representing them effectively. The residents of Cornwall expect all councillors – regardless of party – to prioritise practical outcomes over political labels.”