Aylesbury councillor faces calls to resign after defection from Reform UK
A councillor, representing an Aylesbury ward, is facing calls to resign after their defection resulted in the Conservatives taking overall control of Buckinghamshire Council.
Aylesbury Labour has called on Cllr Kathy Gibbon, who represents Kingsbrook, Bierton and Wing, to stand down following her decision to leave Reform UK and join the Conservative Party.
She was was elected as a Reform UK councillor in May 2025 but announced her defection yesterday, a move that has changed control of the council without a further vote by residents.
The party said the shift raised questions about democratic accountability, arguing that control of the authority had changed through a switch of party allegiance rather than at the ballot box.
Eris Robertson, chair of Aylesbury Labour Party, said: “This move simply takes us back into the realm of a council that keeps making the same badly run, poorly managed and budgeted council, it’s just a slap in the face of voters who selected their councillors at the ballot box back in May 2025.
“We are calling for a by-election in Councillor Gibbons’ ward so that voters can decide whether they wish for her to continue to represent them under a new party.
“If Councillor Gibbons believes that her decision reflects the views of local people, the appropriate and honourable course of action is to stand down and seek a fresh mandate.
“The people of Kingsbrook, Bierton and Wing should be given the opportunity to decide who represents them and who controls their council.”
Cllr Gibbon said the move would mean she could work more effectively in her role.
She said: “The residents of Bierton, Kingsbrook and Wing put their faith in me to represent them in the best possible way.
“After very careful consideration, I believe that joining the Conservative Group on Buckinghamshire Council will allow me to work more effectively as part of a strong, experienced team.
“It’s clear from my discussions with Steven Broadbent, the budget proposals and the positive corporate peer review that the vision for Bucks is focused on delivering for residents both now and in the future.”
The Conservative Party were one seat short of a controlling majority following last May’s local elections. It marked the first time the Tory Party was not a controlling majority in Buckinghamshire.