A Lancashire county councillor has become the first known politician in Britain to switch from Reform UK to the Labour Party, stating he had grown concerned about Reform's ability to achieve meaningful local outcomes. Nigel Swales, who represents Skelmersdale East on Lancashire County Council, was elected in May 2025 under the banner of Reform UK. However, he has now decided to leave the party, stating he has seen "first-hand" how "Reform simply doesn't have a serious plan" to address local issues. Swales, who works as a paramedic, initially joined Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, with the intention of "making a difference for the people I represent." However, he later expressed disappointment, noting that the party had become "embroiled in scandal" and lacked the leadership necessary to deliver real change. He emphasized that residents in Lancashire deserve representatives focused on practical solutions rather than generating headlines or fostering division. Reform UK responded to the defection by expressing disappointment, stating that voters would feel "betrayed and disappointed" to see another Labour councillor. However, the leader of the Labour group on the council, councillor Mark Clifford, called the move "fantastic news," noting that it brought the Labour group's total to six members. He added that the defection marked the beginning of a potential trend, with more councillors possibly following suit. This defection marks the first known case of a Reform UK member moving to Labour. Swales had previously been a Labour Party member but had not been active in the party. A Labour North West spokesperson welcomed the move, saying it demonstrated that people were beginning to see through Reform's "slogans" and recognize the lack of a serious plan for improving people's lives. Ashley Dalton, MP for West Lancashire, also welcomed Swales to Labour, stating that he had realized Reform could not deliver for Skelmersdale and that only Labour could. Swales' move comes weeks after another West Lancashire Reform councillor, Leon Graham, defected to the Conservatives in July, citing his view of Reform as a "party of protest" rather than one prepared to govern. A Reform UK Lancashire spokesperson noted that Swales had received support from Reform councillors for a period before his defection, which was partly due to personal issues. They expressed hope that Labour would provide similar support moving forward.