Fresh chaos for Reform UK as three Durham councillors quit - after resignation of Welsh leader following 'controlling behaviour' arrest

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 07:24 EDT, 16 September 2026 | Updated: 07:54 EDT, 16 September 2026 Reform UK has been plunged further into chaos by the resignation of three more local councillors.Lyndsey Fox, Nicole Brown and Paul Sexton are all reported to have quit the party and will now sit as independents on Durham County Council.It means 16 councillors on the local authority have now left Reform since elections in May last year, when Nigel Farage's party won 65 seats to secure a majority.Reform has also this week seen the departure of its Welsh leader Dan Thomas following his arrest on suspicion of assault and controlling or coercive behaviour.Mr Farage is meanwhile continuing to face questions about Reform's finances, after a donations row overshadowed the party's annual conference earlier this month.Detectives from the Metropolitan Police are investigating after senior Reform figures were filmed appearing to discuss how to disguise donations from foreign sources.Reform denies any wrongdoing and has said it will co-operate fully with the probe.Mr Farage is separately the subject of an investigation by Parliament's standards watchdog over a £5million gift he received from billionaire Christopher Harborne. Nigel Farage's Reform UK has been plunged further into chaos by the resignation of three more local councillors Sixteen councillors on Durham County Council have now left Reform since elections in May last year Reform has also this week seen the departure of its Welsh leader Dan Thomas following his arrest on suspicion of assault and controlling or coercive behaviourMs Fox told the Northern Echo she had left Reform because of 'growing concerns about the culture I have experienced'.She also said she had raised a 'serious safeguarding' issue with the party's leadership but had received no response.'In July, I raised a serious safeguarding concern which I subsequently reported to the police and to the Police and Crime Commissioner,' she said.'While I would never expect the party to interfere with a police investigation, I did expect a safeguarding process: an acknowledgement that the concern had been raised, clarity around safeguarding responsibilities and appropriate follow-up.'Instead, the conversation moved quickly to political numbers and possible roles within the council.'There was no meaningful follow-up with me about the safeguarding concern itself.'Ms Fox added she had been 'increasingly uncomfortable with the direction of the group since May.''We were elected to deliver for County Durham, but too often the focus has appeared to shift towards internal politics and positioning for future elections rather than the job residents elected us to do,' she continued.'I entered local politics because I wanted to make a difference for Bishop Auckland and County Durham. That remains my priority.' In response to the councillors' resignations, Andrew Husband, the Reform leader of Durham County Council, said: 'These people have let their residents down.'They have conned them using Reform colours and betrayed the many members who spent their time and money to help get them elected.'On Tuesday, Mr Thomas announced he was standing down from his role leading Reform in Wales for 'personal reasons' but would continue as a member of the Senedd.'Over the weekend, I was reported to the police and was released without charge,' he said.'I stress that I have done nothing wrong, but I do not want the coming headlines to be a distraction from the fantastic work our Senedd team is doing in holding this government to account.'I will continue to serve my constituents in Casnewydd Islwyn and will fully back whoever the group selects as its next leader.'Mr Thomas was named Reform's Welsh leader in February and led the party to become the second largest in the Senedd at elections in May.In a statement, Gwent Police said: 'On Sunday 13 September a 45-year-old man, from the Aberbargoed area, was arrested on suspicion of assault and engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour. He has been bailed pending further enquiries.'