Another Conservative councillor in London has joined Reform UK, claiming his former local party was plagued by “toxic internal politics”, though his old party claims he was deselected.
Mark Justin was elected to Wandsworth Council to represent Nine Elms in 2022, when Labour took control of the authority from the Tories for the first time in 44 years.
Wandsworth Conservatives told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) Councillor Justin was unsuccessful in his attempt in December to seek reselection as a Tory candidate for the borough’s upcoming local elections in 2026. Announcing he has now quit the Tories, Councillor Justin vowed to stand as a candidate for Reform when residents head to the polls in May.
Councillor Justin said: “I’ve officially resigned the Conservative whip on Wandsworth Council and joined Reform UK. The Wandsworth Conservatives are out of touch, riddled with toxic internal politics and more focused on saving careerist agendas than serving local people.
“I have no regrets and look forward to standing for re-election in Nine Elms in 2026 as a Reform UK candidate. I’m proud to join a younger, motivated team at Reform UK with real support from the residents of Nine Elms. The work continues.”
He becomes Wandsworth’s first Reform councillor. The authority also has 34 Labour councillors, 21 Conservative councillors and two Independents.
Reform claims Councillor Justin’s move is another signal of the party’s growing momentum in the capital, as it now has six London councillors and expects to gain more in the coming weeks. Alan Cook is the party’s only directly-elected London councillor, as he won a by-election held by Bromley Council in July, with the rest defecting from the Conservatives.
Now representing Bromley Common and Holwood, Councillor Cook told the LDRS: “It’s not just a win, it’s a huge win. I’ve pushed over the first Tory domino, so to speak. There’s nowhere that is Tory controlled now that we can’t win.”
There are also two Reform councillors in Barnet, one in Waltham Forest and one in Westminster.
Regarding Councillor Justin’s move, a Reform UK spokesperson said: “We’re delighted Mark has joined us. We welcome anyone who shares our vision for integrity, accountability, and meaningful change to join us. We are receiving more enquiries from councillors of all parties in London, and anticipate further announcements in the coming weeks.”
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