Political ‘Dream Team’ Turns to Political Nightmare: Scores of Reform Members Threaten to Quit Over Councillor’s Defection..

The controversial decision by Reform UK to allow former Hartlepool Conservative Leader Mike Young has reportedly led to scores of Reform UK members threatening to quit the party & hand in their memberships.

7th August 2025

Scores of Reform party members have threatened to cancel their memberships following a decision to bring in to the fold a former Hartlepool Conservative Leader with a string of bad headlines to his name.

The announcement came yesterday evening, revealing that Mike Young — the ex-Tory Group Leader and former Council Leader for Hartlepool's Rural West — had officially joined Reform UK, becoming the fourth councillor to represent the party on Hartlepool Borough Council. His arrival follows the collapse of his Conservative-led coalition after May’s 2024 local council elections, which saw voters decisively reject the local Tories.

But what was been pitched by Reform as a strengthening of their local “dream team” has quickly unravelled into a grassroots revolt.

"Political Lifeboat for Has-Beens"

Local Reform UK members have reportedly not taken the news lightly, with many taking to social media threatening to cancel their memberships, calling the decision a betrayal of the party’s anti-establishment ethos.

“This isn’t why we joined Reform,” one angry supporter wrote online. “This party is supposed to offer an alternative to Labour and the Tories — not be a political lifeboat for the same failed faces voters already rejected.”

The backlash has also been echoed by local media, with The Teesside & Durham Post — — announcing it would withdraw its backing to Reform UK indefinitely yesterday following Mike Young’s defection. The outlet cited concerns about credibility and direction, stating that Reform risks becoming “just another shade of Tory blue.”

Labour: “Shameless Tory Retreads”

Labour sources were quick to pounce on the news, where its claimed Just weeks ago, insiders claimed Mike Young was planning to jump ship to Reform amid fears of losing his seat to the party in 2027. Their prediction has now materialised — but with it has comes renewed criticism over Reform's credibility as a political party. .

In a blistering statement, Reforms Opposition, The Hartlepool Labour Group said:

“Mike Young – former Tory Group Leader, Association Chair, and Rural West Councillor – has jumped ship to Reform UK. This is the same Mike Young who: Publicly celebrated raising your council tax to the highest legal amount. Left the council £10 million in deficit after years as leader. Has a long history of failed businesses and controversial charity dealings. Now he’s abandoned the party Rural West voters elected him under, for a party his ward didn't vote for. Is this what Reform want to be in Hartlepool? Another shade of Tory blue, led by failure and self-interest.”

Even the Labour MP for Hartlepool weighed in, branding Reform UK “failed Tories in disguise” accusing the party of trying to “fool the public” with repackaged establishment figures.

Reform UK Defends Decision

Amanda Napper Reform UK

Reform UK issued a statement last night in an attempt to reassure its membership:

“I’m aware some people have expressed big feelings and made some big public statements about these changes, so I want to use this opportunity to reassure those who seek it. We are building a dream team. Rob Darby and Mike Young bring an abundance of experience and strong work ethic to the table. Reform in Hartlepool is open to anyone who is seeking solutions to the endless problems that honest and hardworking people face every day. The backlog of problems cannot be fixed overnight.”

But the statement appears to have done little to calm the storm.

Trouble Ahead for 2026?

What was once seen as a rising force in Hartlepool politics is now facing a major identity crisis. With accusations of hypocrisy and betrayal, Reform UK now risks alienating the very voter base that propelled its surge earlier this year...

One former supporter summed up the local mood: “I didn’t vote Reform just to get more of the same. If this is their future, I’ll be voting Labour next time.”

And it seems for a party aiming to challenge Labour’s grip on Hartlepool Borough Council in 2026, this latest episode could prove to be a turning point — just not in the direction they'd hoped.