By-election causes spat between Reform UK members as party's branches in Sheffield merge
Reform was previously split between two branches in Sheffield
Members have submitted complaints to Reform UK’s leadership as two of the party’s branches merged into one - just as a by-election is set to take place.
National political parties create local branches to manage issues within each region they represent.
Up until now, Reform have divided their’s in Sheffield into two, split between the east and the west.
However, now the party will be managed locally under a single Reform Sheffield branch, causing upset for some members who feel they are no longer being accurately represented by the party.
Reform Sheffield East member, Michael Meredith, has sent a letter to national Reform leadership to call out what he describes as a “coup d’etat.”
“Many fully paid-up members are feeling disillusioned, they paid to join Reform but were not consulted,” he wrote.
“Members of the coup d’etat are acting against the wishes of the membership causing damage to the Reform Party.”
The Star understands that the matter has boiled over due to the upcoming by-election in Southey, in which the former east branch picked their own candidate which was then overridden by the city-wide branch.
Paul Jakeman has been officially announced as the party’s candidate in Southey, after he previously ran in the Dore and Totley ward during the May local elections.
Michael’s letter has also been published on Facebook, and it is understood it has been sent to Sheffield City Council leadership.
Councillor, John Hesketh leader of Reform UK’s Sheffield councillors, was approached for comment and said he is aware of the matter being shared online and will deal with them within the party’s internal processes, if required.