Politics
A Reform councillor just resigned in the most embarrassing way possible
Here at the Canary, we’ve been very critical of the sort of people who run to become Reform UK councillors. Sometimes this has been because of their own actions; other times it’s been because the party they sought to represent is reprehensible. Given this, we’d generally praise someone for leaving the party. It is somewhat difficult to do that in this instance, though:
Reform councillor resigns, but sent their resignation letter to the wrong council — Harry Eccles (@Heccles94) August 20, 2026
Confusion
The Reform councillor in question is one Christine Duffy. Duffy has previously complained that she “received no training” around the councillor role, which is a fair enough complaint. It’s not surprising, either, as we know that Reform doesn’t even seem to vet its candidates. We also know that Reform councillors have complained about having the tow the party line over local interests.
As noted, Duffy sent her resignation letter to the wrong council. For whatever reason, she addressed her correspondence to Kidsgrove Town Council instead of Newcastle-under-Lyme. This is a pretty big mistake, and while we know she “received no training”, that can only excuse so much.
Adding further intrigue to the story, Duffy has since withdrawn her resignation. While a resignation cannot be withdrawn once received, Duffy claims she withdrew before Kidsgrove handed the resignation to Newcastle. She also said:
I am not resigning as the Borough Councillor for the Town ward and I remain committed to representing the residents who elected me.
Additionally:
I am appalled that a private letter, provided in confidence to the Clerk of Kidsgrove Town Council, has somehow been obtained by the Kidsgrove Independents and is now being exploited for party political purposes.
And also this:
My position could not be clearer.
It probably could be clearer, to be fair, but maybe this is the best she can do?
Not alone
Duffy isn’t the only Reform councillor to have resigned recently. John Bell resigned on 17 August following the announcement that Reform want to abolish Personal Independence Payments (PIP):
The big question about Reform's plan to remove PIP disability payments from two-thirds of claimants is whether it's politically sustainable.
PIP pays ~£4,500 a year, tax-free, to ~10,000 people in a typical Reform target seat. Big debate ahead. https://t.co/fi1SlusXE8
— Fraser Nelson (@FraserNelson) August 18, 2026
Abolishing PIP entirely is an extreme position for Reform to take – both because of the damage it will do to sick and disabled people, and the damage it will do to the party’s electability:
Reform UK PIP changes: Reform UK MPs vs Old Tory MPs
Farage, Pochin, Anderson, Tice, Having reviewed PIP data and mapped it against Reform UK constituencies, and weighted for working age claimants, it's clear that there is a divide… pic.twitter.com/fMhqMmdlxF
— Reform UK Exposed
vs
Jenrick, Braverman, Rosindell, Kruger
In Farage’s Clacton constituency, it’s more like one-in-five voters. And while Reform has done a good job conning PIP claimants into thinking they’ll only target the ‘layabouts’, it’s going to be hard to pull that same trick when the party is claiming every PIP claimant is a layabout.
By proposing to abolish PIP while simultaneously shunting other costs on to businesses, Reform seems to have designed a policy which will be hated by everyone. Obviously, there are many Britons who don’t own their own business of claim PIP, but bear in mind there are:
In other words, most Britons will know a PIP claimant or a business owner. And through word of mouth, they’re going to hear very bad things about this policy.
Reform: Going, gone
As detailed above, there are many reasons for Reform politicians to resign. Some have gone to take a moral stand; others have gone following a series of farcical mistakes. We do encourage all Reform councillors to abandon the party, though, and we hope fewer of them get in with the next local elections. This is looking more and more likely too given the party’s bizarre decision to attack its own potential voters.
Featured image via the Canary
By Willem Moore
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