Northants Reform councillor suspended by party
Adam Smith was elected five week ago for Hackleton and Roade
A Northamptonshire councillor has been suspended by Reform UK following “a number of concerns” about his conduct.
Cllr Adam Smith was elected to West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) to represent Hackleton and Roade just five weeks ago in the May elections as a Reform UK candidate. On Tuesday, June 3, his details on WNC’s website changed and listed him as an independent councillor.
Reform UK has since confirmed that Cllr Smith has had the whip suspended from him while he is under investigation.
A spokesman for the party on West Northamptonshire Council added: “Following a number of concerns regarding the conduct of Councillor Adam Smith, the whip has been suspended pending an internal investigation.
“We cannot comment further at this time.”
The group, which took control of the council from the outgoing Conservatives at the local elections, currently holds a majority administration. With the suspension of Cllr Smith from Reform, it currently has a total of 41 elected members out of the full 76.
The local Reform UK group need 39 councillors to maintain their majority, meaning that just a few absences from members at full council meetings could cost them control of the chamber. However, they still dwarf the size of other opposition groups on WNC, with the next largest party being made up of 17 Conservative councillors.
Cllr Smith received the second highest number of votes from residents in his Hackleton and Grange ward, with 18 per cent of the vote. He narrowly missed out on securing top spot in the two-member ward, which was taken by Conservative councillor Fiona Cole. She snapped up 1,095 votes compared to Cllr Smith’s 1,063 votes.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service has contacted Cllr Smith for comment.