Labour suffered its first direct defection to Reform by an elected politician in England today as a sitting councillor joined Nigel Farage‘s party with a blast at Keir Starmer.
Councillor Mason Humberstone said Labour was ‘lost’ and had forgotten about ‘ordinary, hardworking people’ as he crossed the floor on Stevenage Borough Council.
Stevenage’s youngest councillor, who is in mid mid 20s, has represented the Old Town ward since 2023.
Announcing his decision on Twitter he accused Labour of ‘too often speaking for a metropolitan elite rather than the people they’re meant to serve’.
However official records show he has attended less than a third of meetings of the council in the past year.
A former youth councillor, in 2016 he told the local Comet newspaper his political role model was Barack Obama and he wanted ‘a career in politics’ – making mental health, gay rights and improving police/public relations his top priorities.
Today he said: ‘I’ve battled with this decision for some time. But deep down, I know it’s the right call.
‘It isn’t ordinary, hardworking people in Stevenage and across our country who’ve left Labour – Labour has left us.
Councillor Mason Humberstone said Labour was ‘lost’ and had forgotten about ‘ordinary, hardworking people’ as he crossed the floor on Stevenage Borough Council.
Announcing his decision on Twitter he accused Labour of ‘too often speaking for a metropolitan elite rather than the people they’re meant to serve’.
Earlier this week Mr Farage unveiled former Tory shadow minister Danny Kruger as his latest Tory recruit, shortly followed by another, Maria Caulfield.
‘The party I joined is lost, without vision, mired in scandal, and too often speaking for a metropolitan elite rather than the people they’re meant to serve.
‘When policies harm the British people and weaken our democracy, I cannot in good conscience support them.
‘As Stevenage’s youngest councillor, I entered politics to serve with integrity and respect.
‘Today, I know I join a party that will put the British people and our great nation first. I feel proud to be part of this team and ready to get to work.’
Mr Farage tweeted: ‘He is putting country before party.’
However, Labour council leader Cllr Richard Henry told the Local Democracy Reporting Service Cllr Humberstone was ‘jumping ship with no fair warning for personal and political gain’.
He continued: ‘I made every attempt, above and beyond what would be considered reasonable, to accommodate and mentor Cllr Humberstone as he brought many challenges to the table in terms of his attendance, punctuality, adherence to commitments, dedication to the role and much more.’
Labour MP for Stevenage Kevin Bonavia said: ‘I am deeply disappointed in Cllr Humberstone for defecting to another party who thrive on fear and division and have no practical solutions for our country’s future.’
He urged Mr Humberstone to ‘do the right thing’ and resign to seek a fresh mandate in a new election, adding: ‘I will not be distracted by political opportunism as I continue to focus on working day and night to secure positive changes for our town and villages as our local MP.’
In the last year, Mr Humberstone has been to 10 of the 33 council and committee meetings he was expected to attend.
He is the first sitting Labour councillor in England to switch to Nigel Farage’s party, following former Scottish Labour councillor Jamie McGuire’s move earlier this year.
Other former Labour politicians have joined Reform, including MP Lee Anderson and election candidate Simon Danczuk, but did so having already left Labour.
Earlier this week Mr Farage unveiled former Tory shadow minister Danny Kruger as his latest Tory recruit, shortly followed by another, Maria Caulfield.
