Havant councillor defects to Reform UK in another blow for borough's Conservatives
Another Havant councillor has announced their defection to Reform UK in yet another blow for the Conservatives in the borough.
Sarah Milne, who represents the Stakes ward in Waterlooville, has joined Reform UK councillors, following in the footsteps of former Conservative leader Gwen Robinson and Caren Diamond who represents Purbook also both defected to Reform Havant last year. This takes the number of Reform councillors in the borough to five.
The Conservatives lost control of the council after 2024 local elections and it had been under Tory majority control since 2002. Havant Borough Council is now run by new coalition of Labour, Liberal Democrats and Green Party councillors.
Cllr Milne has lived in the same house in the Stakes Ward since she was just one year old and said she is committed to supporting the local community. Outside of being a councillor, she works for the Department of Work and Pensions and has done so for 35 years.
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She said: “Defecting to Reform UK is the right choice, not just for me, but for the residents of Havant. Having spent my entire life living in Stakes, I am well versed in the issues the community is facing and the improvements it needs.
“On a national and local level, Reform UK is the party that Britain desperately needs in order to get the country back up and running, improve the livelihoods of residents and restore hope back into the community.
“I am eager to hit the ground running with the other Reform UK councillors and work together to deliver real change.”
Welcoming Cllr Milne, a Reform UK spokesman said: “Sarah is a wonderful addition to Reform UK. With her wealth of knowledge and lifelong residency in the area, Sarah will be able to deliver the improvements local residents need.”
The new make-up of the council is:
- Labour - 9
- Conservatives - 8
- Green - 6
- Liberal Democrats - 5
- Reform UK - 5
- Independent - 3