Reform UK · Vice Chair, Camborne, Redruth & Hayle branch · Ludgvan Parish Councillor
Last updated: ~7 min read
Alison Groves is the former Reform UK County Organiser for West Cornwall and current Vice Chair of the Camborne, Redruth & Hayle branch — and the dominant voice on the October 2025 Highwayman pub recording that named Paul Mills as the figure who installed Nathan Michell as branch chairman over local objections. Until 22 April 2026 she held the parallel post of County Organiser for West Cornwall, working alongside East organiser Andrea Lovett. The West post was then abolished. Groves remained a Reform UK member and continued in her pre-existing Vice Chair role at the Camborne, Redruth & Hayle branch — under the same chairman whose appointment she had publicly objected to on the Highwayman recording six months earlier.
| Name | Alison Groves |
| Birth name | Alison Margaret Cartwright |
| Known aliases | Maggie Cartwright, Coralie Cartwright |
| Role | Vice Chair, Camborne, Redruth & Hayle branch, Reform UK |
| Former role | County Organiser (West Cornwall) — post abolished 22 April 2026 |
| Status | Party Official & Parish Councillor (Co-opted, Not Elected) |
| Location | St Ives area, Cornwall |
18 October 2025 · The Highwayman pub, Dobwalls
Groves was the dominant voice on the secretly recorded confrontation between Reform UK officials over the future of the Camborne, Redruth & Hayle branch chairmanship. She is heard objecting that Paul Mills — the Reform UK South West Regional Director — had decided to install Nathan Michell as branch chair without consulting her, despite her never having met him.
“But that was only as, must have been Paul Mills, had decided to put that Nathan in situ.”— Alison Groves on the Highwayman recording, 18 October 2025
“Okay, so I'm really glad that you're recording this because I will ask Paul Mills that 'cos that's news to me.”— Alison Groves on the Highwayman recording, 18 October 2025
The recording is the foundational primary source for Cornwall Political Watch's investigation into how Reform UK's national HQ directs Cornwall operations. Groves's on-tape objection to Mills's appointment of Michell — and her continued service under that same Michell as Vice Chair after April 2026 — is the contradiction the dossier traces.
Listen to the full recording and read the synced transcript on the Reform UK in Cornwall investigation page.
Reform UK abolished the West Cornwall County Organiser post that Groves had held, consolidating organising for the whole county under Andrea Lovett (previously East-only). Groves did not leave the party; she retained her membership and continued in her pre-existing Vice Chair role at the Camborne, Redruth & Hayle branch.
It is incorrect to describe Groves as having been 'reassigned' to Vice Chair. The Vice Chair role pre-dated the reshuffle — what changed on 22 April 2026 was that her parallel above-branch County Organiser (West) post was abolished. The branch role itself was unchanged. The chairman she serves under, Nathan Michell, is the one whose appointment she had publicly objected to on the Highwayman recording six months earlier.
Companies House records reveal two active directorships under the name Alison Margaret Cartwright. A separate employment record shows her as Financial Controller at Footfall Lighting Limited.
| Company No. | 07530495 |
| Role | Director |
| Registered | 8 East Quay, Hayle, Cornwall |
Renamed four times since 2011: Thermit Products → Flash Cleaning → The Tax Firm → NSC Building Solutions Group. SIC code 63990 (Other information service activities n.e.c.) — not the construction-sector classification the trading name implies.
| Company No. | 14418497 |
| Role | Director |
| Registered | Serviced office, Halesowen, West Midlands |
Registered at a serviced-office address far from Cornwall. No visible trading activity at the registered address.
Stands as Reform UK candidate for St Ives East, Lelant & Carbis Bay in the Cornwall Council elections. Loses to Liberal Democrat Luke Rogers.
Co-opted (not elected) to Ludgvan Parish Council. Holds her parish seat through all subsequent events.
Central voice on the secretly recorded Highwayman pub confrontation in Dobwalls. On tape, names Paul Mills as the Regional Director who decided to install Nathan Michell as CRH branch chair without consulting her.
Rob Parsonage resigns as Reform UK's Cornwall Council group leader within days of the recording becoming public. The Cornwall Reform group's collapse begins.
Mills's CRH branch appointment of Michell becomes the subject of public member complaints reported by Cornwall Live and The Guardian.
Reform UK abolishes the West Cornwall County Organiser post held by Groves; organising for the whole county is merged under Andrea Lovett. Groves continues in her existing Vice Chair role at the Camborne, Redruth & Hayle branch under Nathan Michell.
Recent coverage of the Reform UK Cornwall group — by-elections, defections, leadership changes — that frames the period during which Alison Groves served as Reform UK County Organiser (West) — a post abolished on 22 April 2026 — while concurrently holding the Vice Chair role at the Camborne, Redruth & Hayle branch that she retains today.
cornwalllive.com
Cornwall councillor called 'complete plonker' demands apology from leader - Cornwall Live
A Reform UK Cornwall councillor has demanded a public apology from the Liberal Democrat council leader who called him "a complete plonker" during a dispute over Cornish Language Strategy spending.
cornwalllive.com
Cornwall Council leader calls Reform councillor 'complete plonker' over Cornish language comments - Cornwall Live
Cornwall Council's leader publicly insulted a Reform UK councillor who had questioned public spending on the council's ten-year Cornish Language Strategy.
cornwalllive.com
Warning that Labour's planning reforms will impact badly for Cornwall - Cornwall Live
Cornwall Council's planning committee has recommended the council leader write to the housing secretary expressing concerns about Labour's proposed national scheme of planning delegation.
cornwalllive.com
Reform UK councillor questions public benefit of learning Cornish - Cornwall Live
A Reform UK councillor challenged Cornwall Council's £170,000-a-year Cornish Language Strategy 2026-2036, questioning whether it reflected broader public priorities or only language advocates.
cornwalllive.com
Yet another Reform UK councillor in Cornwall leaves the party - Cornwall Live
Another Reform UK Cornwall councillor has left the party, reducing their representation from 28 to 21 members in just over a year.
cornwalllive.com
Reform UK councillor fails in bid to stop students standing on buses due to 'safety risk' - Cornwall Live
Reform UK councillor Sean Smith's motion to end over-subscription on Cornwall bus routes to prevent standing passengers failed at Cornwall Council.
Coverage from cornwalllive.com, devonlive.com, plymouthherald.co.uk. May not be exhaustive.
This investigation draws on publicly available records: Companies House filings, Ludgvan Parish Council minutes, Cornwall Council election results, mainstream media reporting, and the publicly released Highwayman pub recording. No private or restricted databases were accessed.
| Source | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cornwall Live — Reform UK accused of parachuting unelected chairman | November 2025 reporting on the CRH branch appointment that Groves had publicly objected to on the Highwayman recording. |
| The Guardian — When reality bites: the rapid rise and chaotic fall of Reform UK in Cornwall | 16 November 2025 long-read covering the Cornwall collapse. |
| Companies House — NSC Building Solutions Group Ltd (07530495) | Director and renaming history. Registered office at 8 East Quay, Hayle. |
| Companies House — NSC Building Solutions Ltd (14418497) | Director record. Registered at a Halesowen serviced office. |
| Ludgvan Parish Council — minutes, July 2025 | Record of co-option to the parish council on 17 July 2025 (not an election). |
| Cornwall Council — election results, May 2025 | St Ives East, Lelant & Carbis Bay ward result showing Liberal Democrat Luke Rogers winning the seat. |
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