Chris Large will step down as Reform UK group leader and as council cabinet member for finance.

Former British Home Secretary Suella Braverman has defected to the hard-right Reform UK party. She resigned her 30-year membership with the Conservative Party and will now represent her southern England constituency as a Reform member.

Nigel Farage’s party is still ahead in the polls, despite accusations that it is turning into a home for failed Tory ministers

Reform UK councillor Matthew Fraser Moat stepped down as head of the Kent Dolge team on Tuesday, stating that he made a "lapse of judgement" after being quoted by the Financial Times saying that the authority had "not made any cuts".

Matthew Goodwin previously said there could be a "negative child benefit tax" on anyone who does not have children.

Conservative voters have become more positive about Reform since the defections – but some Reform voters have been turned off.

Reform's Redcar branch says other political parties stopped it from fielding a by-election candidate.