Lee Anderson has celebrated a Labour councillor defecting to Reform (Image: Getty)
hailed a “seismic moment” as the first Labour councillor defected to .
Cathy Mason, who sits on Ashfield District Council, said she was “disappointed” with Sir ‘s policies including stripping most pensioners of winter fuel payments.
She becomes the town hall’s third Reform councillor and her switch leaves Labour with no representatives.
Mr Anderson, the Reform MP for Ashfield, said: “This is a seismic moment for Reform UK, the first Labour councillor has defected to us today and it’s happened in the capital of common sense, Ashfield.
“Cathy will be the first of many to join Reform UK from Labour and she will be one of millions to leave Labour to vote for Reform UK at the next general election. We are the only party that can beat Labour.”
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Mr Anderson pictured with defector Cathy Mason (Image: REFORM UK)
Ms Mason, who represents the Carsic ward, added: “I am personally disappointed that the Labour Party’s policies since the election have not helped people and going forward will not help the people of Ashfield.
“Residents are suffering and they need change, Reform is now the only party offering this.”
Her move follows last week’s defection of Ashfield Independent councillor Andy Gascoyne to Reform UK.
It comes as has lashed out at the as part of a town hall overhaul.
Those affected are East Sussex, West Sussex, Essex, Thurrock, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Norfolk, Suffolk and Surrey.
, had been expected to perform well in areas including Thurrock and Essex.
The Reform leader accused the Government of “sheer cowardice” over the move.