A Reform UK county councillor serving Thanet has defected to UKIP.

A statement from Reform UK headquarters confirmed Cllr Amelia Randall had left the party with their good wishes.

But opposition leader at Kent Councty Council (KCC) Antony Hook called for Cllr Randall, who was elected in May inthe Birchington and Rural division, to resign and call a by-election.

Cllr Randall was still posting on X in support of Reform UK on September 4 and is understood to have attended the party conference at the weekend.

The party still has 55 of 81 councillors at County Hall, having withdrawn the whip of another member who is facing criminal charges.

Cllr Hook said: "We are just months after the election and Ms Randall has switched parties.

"She should resign so that Birchington residents can make

See Full Page