Reform UK chiefs have been slammed after South Tyneside Council suffered another shock resignation form the ruling Reform group.
Resignation of Alex Marr
It was reported on 12 August that Councillor Alex Barr had “voluntarily resigned” from South Tyneside’s Reform UK group. Barr, who was elected in May 2026 to represent the Primrose ward in Jarrow, in May 2026, resigned from Reform UK on Tuesday 11 August.
It was further reported that it was “understood that Cllr Barr is set to continue representing the ward as an independent councillor on South Tyneside Council”.
The resignation has caused a considerable amount of chaos on South Tyneside council as it was also reported on 12 August that South Tyneside council now had to review the makeup of council committees, now that Alex Barr is sitting as an Independent.
It was noted that “by law, councils must review political balance arrangements when there is a change in group membership and if necessary, committee places must be reallocated as soon as practicable to reflect the revised composition of South Tyneside Council”.
Reform UK chiefs slammed
This has brought criticism of the leaders of the ruling Reform group on South Tyneside Council.
It was reported on 14 August that the leader of the council and the borough’s Reform UK Group, Councillor Paul Mackings had confirmed in a social media statement that Cllr Barr had “resigned voluntarily” and that he would “continue to represent Primrose ward as an independent councillor until further notice.”
Responding to the lack of clarity at South Tyneside council, Councillor Rachael Taylor, Green Group leader, commented that Primrose residents “deserve clarity” before adding that residents who in May had voted “based on the Reform label deserve transparency about the changes that have taken place since”.
Taylor emphasised that she didn’t want another “expensive” by-election after the recent Harton ward by-election but still maintained that there was a democratic question regarding “councillors leaving the party under which they were elected without residents having the opportunity to decide whether they still want them as their representative”.
Taylor added: “The repeated changes within the Reform group raise questions about stability and the amount of council officer time being spent reorganising committee allocations and responsibilities.
“South Tyneside residents deserve political stability, more transparency than we have previously had and councillors who can work constructively together in their best interests.”
Reform councillor resigned after job was ‘mis-sold’
Councillor Taylor’s remarks come only two months after it was reported that another Reform UK councillor in South Tyneside, elected in May, had resigned. Somewhat puzzlingly, the councillor in question claimed that the role was “mis-sold” to him.
It was further noted that “Alex Clarke was elected to represent the Harton ward on South Tyneside Council but claimed he had been given to understand he would only need to attend six meetings a year.
More worryingly, it was also stated that Clarke had resigned after the Hope not Hate website had reported that Clarke had allegedly made antisemitic comments about England footballer Djed Spence, while also making sexist remarks on a podcast he runs with his partner.
In another bizarre twist, Clarke also claimed he thought he had resigned several weeks before but had done so incorrectly.
It was predicted in May that Reform taking over a number of North East councils would lead to chaos. When people elect their councillors, they have the right to know that they are taking the job seriously.
People in the region who live under Reform councils deserve better than the chaos that seems to be so widespread. They need to know that their elected representatives are serious in their intentions to work for them and just what they are voting for. Being a councillor is a serious commitment.
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