Derbyshire Conservative councillor defects to Reform UK three months after unsuccessful election bid

Councillor Amanda Paget, who represents the Smalley, Shipley and Horsley Woodhouse ward on Amber Valley Borough Council, has swapped her blue rosette to Reform’s turquoise.

It is a move that expands Reform UK’s representation to three councillors on the authority, less than a year on from gaining its first member, Cllr James Kerry in a June 2025 by-election and its second through Cllr Dave Chambers in a January by-election.

The borough council is now currently in no overall control following a series of by-election losses and defections, with Labour holding 20 seats and the other parties combined having 22 seats.

Cllr Paget was elected to the borough council in May 2023 as a Green Party member, but changed allegiance to the Conservatives in March 2024 after 10 months in office.

This move, she said, was over opposition to solar farm plans and in-fighting.

Now on her third political party since her 2023 election, the new Reform UK councillor is set to be in place till the next poll slated for May 2027 – that’s before the council is due to be scrapped in 2028.

Cllr Paget’s move also falls three months after she unsuccessfully contested the Horsley division by-election for a seat on Derbyshire County Council in January this year, with Cllr Paget finishing a distant third in what became a straight shootout between Reform and the victorious Green Party.

Following that loss, Cllr Paget had said people are upset at the Conservative party nationally.

“We had 14 years in Government and got things wrong towards the end,” she said.

Cllr Paget had claimed the impact of Party-gate during the pandemic and lack of people-centred policies under Rishi Sunak did not persuade votes.

Cllr Paget said the party had not sent a member of the shadow cabinet to the area to assist with the by-election race, while Nigel Farage and Richard Tice visited for Reform and Zack Polanski visited for the Greens.

Asked if she felt Kemi Badenoch was the right leader for the Conservatives nationally, she had said: “I wouldn’t know, I’ve not met her.”

In the defection announcement, Cllr Paget said: “I am proud to announce my defection to Reform – my new political home.

“I firmly believe that, as the political landscape evolves and individual ideologies mature, it is essential for representatives to align themselves with platforms that truly reflect their core principles.

“After careful reflection, I have found that my own vision for the future is now more closely mirrored by the values and objectives of Reform UK, making this move a natural and necessary progression in my service to the public.

“I look forward to working alongside my new Reform colleagues to deliver a better future for Amber Valley.”

A Reform UK spokesman said: “We are delighted to welcome Amanda to Reform UK. She is an excellent addition to our growing team in Derbyshire as we build towards the May elections.”

Cllr Tony Harper, Conservative Group leader in Amber Valley, said: “Amanda has been very good for us, she has worked hard and she is a good councillor. We are sorry to lose her and wish her all the best in her political career. Anybody can go to whichever party she likes and something has clearly attracted her to Reform and I am sure she will work hard for them.”