North Yorkshire Conservative councillor defects to Reform

The departure of Councillor Tim Grogan, member for the Monk Fryston and South Milford division, means the controlling Conservative and Independent group on the council now has 44 councillors — less than half the total number of 90.

Cllr Grogan, who it is understood was chief whip within the Tory group and had been tasked with finding councillors considering defection to Reform, becomes the fifth Reform councillor on the authority.

The councillor said he had made the switch after being approached by local residents in his division who asked if he would consider the move.

The former West Yorkshire police officer said: “I have always liked what Reform has been saying and I feel the Conservative Party has lost its way over the years.

“I was not on board with the direction of the party both nationally and locally. I look forward to fighting the election next May as a Reform candidate.”

Councillor Tom Seston, the Reform Group leader on the authority, welcomed the councillor to the group.

He added: “Tim is a straight-talking guy who isn’t afraid to call out issues when he sees them.

“He will be a fantastic addition to our team as we move towards elections next year, bringing a wealth of experience from his past career as well as his time as a Councillor.

“Like many, he realises the Conservative Party has lost its way and recognises that both locally and nationally we need Reform.”

Councillor Carl Les, the Conservative leader of the council, said he was disappointed by Cllr Grogan’s departure.

“In particular, I’m disappointed to lose Tim when he’d had a conversation with me about what his concerns are.”

The Conservative and Interdependent group lost its majority earlier this year with the departure of Councillor John Mann, who initially became an unaligned independent and then joined Reform. Councillor Karl Arthur previously defected from Conservative to Reform in October last year.

With 45 councillors, the group could still count on the casting vote of the chairman, Conservative member George Jabbour, should votes be tied when decisions were taken at full council meetings.

But Cllr Grogan’s departure means the group is now in the minority.

The defection follows a Conservative group meeting on Wednesday when Cllr Les faced a challenge to his leadership of the group from former executive committee colleague, Councillor Keane Duncan.

The meeting was deferred until July following a heated debate over whether independent members of the controlling group should have a vote on its leadership.

Cllr Les said he had been elected as leader for the term of the council and opposition councillors would need to call for a no-confidence vote if they wanted to make changes before the local election in May next year.

Councillor Peter Lacey, Liberal Democrat leader of the opposition, said the latest defection was the “clearest sign yet of an administration that is divided, fragile and increasingly consumed by internal chaos”.

He added: “The Conservatives are losing control of both their group and the council — and residents will end up paying the price for the chaos at the top.”