A Reform UK member of East Sussex County Council and Rother District Council has become an independent after resigning from his party.
Councillor Daniel (Dan) Bradley announced his decision in a Facebook post on Thursday (8 October).
Councillor Bradley was first elected in the local elections in May, becoming a Rother district councillor for Rye and Winchelsea and county councillor for Rye and Eastern Rother.
After his election, Councillor Bradley briefly served as the county council’s lead member for children and young people but stood down from this role in July.
At the time, he said that his decision was because of “the potential for a perceived conflict of interest”.
This was said to have arisen as a result of his role as national director of the Marine Training Corps — a community interest company which works with children and young people.
Reform UK said: “Councillor Bradley’s resignation immediately followed Reform’s decision to conduct additional vetting after officers advised that he stepped down from his role as cabinet member for children and young people.
“Questions also arose over the contents of his CV supplied to the party. He failed to engage with two requests for additional vetting immediately before his resignation.”
Councillor Bradley criticised the Reform leadership of East Sussex, accusing those in charge of having no strategic plan, dismal levels of communication and too much focus on national politics rather than helping local people.
East Sussex County Council remains in no overall control. It is now made up of 21 Reform UK councillors, 13 Liberal Democrats, 11 Greens, three Conservatives and two independents, including Councillor Bradley.
He was the only Reform member of Rother District Council which is also in no overall control. The Conservatives have the most seats – 12 out of 38 – but the council is run by a coalition.
The coalition is made up of the Rother Association of Independent Councillors, Labour, Lib Dems and Greens.
