Bruce Craze resignation statement — 29 July 2026, defecting to Restore Britain

What Craze said

“I was proud to stand and campaign for Reform UK, but the party which I stood for no longer resembles the party which I sit with today.”^[1]

“As Reform UK has garnered success, many of their policies have been dropped and weakened, to such an extent that Reform UK is now not too dissimilar to the failed old Conservative Party it once hoped to consign to history. This is especially so following many old Conservatives MPs, the same MPs who failed the people of this country, joining the Reform benches.”^[1]

“Locally I have been lucky and proud to work with amazing colleagues who work hard for their area and the people they represent, but I have become disillusioned with the Reform UK group at Cornwall Council. The group has been bitterly divided, with councillors putting their egos and aspirations before the people of Cornwall and even though things have quietened now, it would only take a spark for the flames of division to flare again.”^[1]

Reform's response

Cllr Paul Ashton, leader of the Reform UK group at Cornwall Council, said: “I am disappointed that Cllr Craze has taken the decision to betray his residents who voted for a Reform UK councillor last year and the many Reform members and volunteers who spent time and money on helping him to get elected.”^[1]

Ashton said: “This resignation comes shortly after he was called into a meeting with the whip and deputy leader to discuss his ongoing poor performance as a councillor and lack of commitment to Reform UK generally.”^[1]

Ashton said: “It's a shame that he has decided to take this step instead of addressing these concerns directly. The Reform group of councillors continue to work hard on behalf of their residents and will not be diverted from the Reform UK vision for the future.”^[1]

Attributed in the source material to the leader of the Reform UK group on Cornwall Council, not as established fact.

What the complaint amounts to

Cornwall Political Watch analysis

Reform UK policy dropped and weakened in office, to the point of resembling "the failed old Conservative Party it once hoped to consign to history"

Former Conservative MPs — "the same MPs who failed the people of this country" — recruited onto the Reform benches

The Cornwall Council group "bitterly divided", with councillors putting "their egos and aspirations before the people of Cornwall"

Motions pushed forward without costings or workability, chasing "anything that looks good for social media"

A group "struggling with the role of opposition, let alone a future administration"

Further from the statement

“But, moreover, the group was not prepared — it pushes forward motions which have not been thought through regarding costings or workability, simply anything that looks good for social media. It is a group which is struggling with the role of opposition, let alone a future administration.”^[1]

“At Cornwall Council I look forward to working with Cllr Tarrant as we push forward Restore Britain policies, continually fighting for a better Cornwall and a council that delivers for the people of Cornwall.”^[1]

“We will provide a true voice of opposition to this Liberal Democrat/Independent coalition and will fight to restore faith in local democracy and what can be achieved. For too long the people of Cornwall have continually seen the same cycle of higher tax, while watching the services delivered decrease, car park prices going up while town centres are already struggling; money going into ideological policies, rather on the people of Cornwall.”^[1]