Former Lord Mayor and long-serving Liberal Democrat councillor Jason Fazackarley has defected to Reform UK.
One of the city’s longest-serving Portsmouth City Councillors, having first been elected in 1995, Cllr Fazackarley has joined Nigel Farage’s party.
The Nelson ward member was originally a Labour councillor who became an independent and then joined the Lib Dems in 2009 and has served as Lord Mayor twice.
“People change their minds over time, and politics should be no different,” he said.
“After more than twenty years representing the people of Nelson Ward, my views have developed, as have the concerns of residents.
“Reform UK now better represents my outlook and my commitment to standing up for local people.”
He underscored his belief in democracy and “respecting the wishes of the people”. He said that since supporting Vote Leave in the Brexit referendum, which the Liberal Democrats opposed at the time, he has “watched national and local politics move further away from the values I hold”.
Cllr George Madgwick, leader of the Reform UK Group said he’s “absolutely delighted” to welcome Jason to the team.
“He has been a respected figure in Portsmouth politics for nearly thirty years and has always been known for putting residents above party interests.
“His decision to join Reform UK is a testament to how far we’ve come in building a credible and common-sense alternative for local people.”
The council now has eight Reform UK councillors, while the Liberal Democrats lead a minority administration with 18 members. Labour hold nine seats, the Conservatives four, the Portsmouth Independent Party (PIP) two, and one councillor sits as an independent.
Reform UK’s numbers have grown rapidly in recent months with Joseph Standen winning the Paulsgrove by-election in October, following four PIP councillors switching to the party the same month.
Ian Holder, Vice Chair of Portsmouth Lib Dems, said: “Jason Fazackarley regularly moves parties within Portsmouth City Council.
“He has been a member of five parties – The Greens, Labour, an Independent councillor, a Lib Dem and now Reform. It is regrettable but not unexpected that he has moved party yet again.”
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