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Roger Tarrant, Restore Britain councillor for Redruth North

Photo: Cornwall Council

Roger Tarrant

Restore Britain councillor for Redruth North

Formerly: Deputy Group Leader, Reform UK (Cornwall Council) — Oct 2025 to 21 April 2026

Ward
Redruth North
Elected
1 May 2025
Defected
21 April 2026
Now sits as
Restore Britain

Key facts

  • Defected from Reform UK to Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain at the start of full Cornwall Council on 21 April 2026 — Cornwall's first Restore Britain councillor and approximately the 20th nationwide.
  • Cornwall councillor for Redruth North since 1 May 2025. Reform UK 2024 General Election candidate for Camborne, Redruth and Hayle.
  • Elected Reform UK Cornwall Deputy Group Leader on 22 October 2025 under Paul Ashton, in the aftermath of the Highwayman pub row at Dobwalls. Held the post until his resignation on 21 April 2026.
  • Previously Reform UK branch chair for Camborne, Redruth and Hayle. Reportedly removed from the post in November 2025 against members' wishes and replaced by Nathan Michell.
  • At the moment of his defection, predicted further departures from Reform Cornwall and a leadership challenge against Paul Ashton at the May AGM.

The resignation

“Branches have been dismantled, and unelected interim officers appointed.”

— Roger Tarrant, 21 April 2026, Full Cornwall Council

Tarrant resigned from Reform UK at the start of full Cornwall Council on 21 April 2026, defecting to Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain. His chamber speech, reconstructed verbatim from the Cornish Times and corroborating outlets, sets out a structural critique of how the central party has handled its Cornwall branches and elected councillors.

Read the full resignation speech →

Career arc

  1. 2024

    Stood as Reform UK's parliamentary candidate for Camborne, Redruth and Hayle at the 2024 General Election.

  2. 1 May 2025

    Elected to Cornwall Council for Redruth North as a Reform UK candidate.

  3. Autumn 2025

    Held the Reform UK branch chair for Camborne, Redruth & Hayle.

  4. 22 October 2025

    Elected Reform UK Cornwall Council Deputy Group Leader under Paul Ashton, replacing Rowland O'Connor, who had resigned the whip after the Highwayman pub row at Dobwalls.

  5. November 2025

    Removed from the Camborne, Redruth & Hayle branch chair; replaced by Nathan Michell — an appointment Tarrant's later resignation speech criticised as part of the broader pattern of unilateral central-party decisions.

  6. 21 April 2026

    Resigned from Reform UK at the start of full Cornwall Council; defected to Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain and withdrew his application to stand as a future Reform UK parliamentary candidate.

  7. 19 May 2026

    At full Cornwall Council, proposed a motion calling for a six-month review of how code-of-conduct complaints are handled, so that no councillor is investigated solely for expressing lawful political views. Seconded by Cllr Dulcie Tudor (Independent), it passed 42–26 and was referred to the standards committee.

  8. 19 May 2026

    Richard Barker elected Reform UK Cornwall Deputy Group Leader unopposed at the May AGM to fill the vacancy Tarrant left.

Public record

Tarrant's full voting record, attendance, committee memberships, and decisions are on his councillor profile page. Ward-level activity for Redruth North is on the ward page.

Sources

This dossier draws exclusively on publicly available records and mainstream reporting: Cornwall Council's democracy portal, and the local and national press coverage of Tarrant's defection.

  1. [1] Cornish Times — Deputy group leader for Reform UK at Cornwall Council steps down (article 899329, 21 April 2026)
  2. [2] Cornish Stuff — Reform UK in chaos again on Cornwall Council, say rivals, after Tarrant defection
  3. [3] Left Foot Forward — Reform in turmoil: deputy group leader of Cornwall Council defects (April 2026)
  4. [4] Hits Radio Cornwall (LDRS) — Cornwall Council backs free-speech motion — Tarrant's 19 May 2026 code-of-conduct review motion, passed 42–26
  5. [5] East Devon Watch — When reality bites — the rapid rise and chaotic fall of Reform UK in Cornwall (comprehensive collapse timeline, 21 November 2025)
  6. [6] Cornwall Council democracy portal — Cllr Roger Tarrant — councillor profile, ward, committee appointments
  7. [7] Cornwall Political Watch — Tarrant's resignation speech, 21 April 2026 — verbatim reconstruction with Reform UK's response
  8. [8] Cornwall Political Watch — Reform UK in Cornwall — the twelve-month collapse (full investigation)

Corrections & contact

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