A councillor on Kent County Council elected for Reform UK has defected to the UK Independence Party (UKIP), dealing a symbolic blow to the party led at national level by Nigel Farage.
Amelia Randall, who won the Birchington and Rural division in May, is reported to have left Reform UK and joined UKIP. Randall was Reform’s parliamentary candidate in Herne Bay and Sandwich at last year’s general election and remains a serving member of the county council.
Local media reported that Randall has claimed psychic abilities and has offered services including tarot readings and other spiritual practices on personal platforms. Her online material and her own website describe services such as “psychic readings with and without tarot cards,” “candle magic,” “numerology forecasts” and “angel harmony readings.” Reports also say she offered readings on the website OnlyFans and sold spells on social media in previous years.
Antony Hook, a Liberal Democrat councillor and leader of the opposition on Kent County Council, urged Randall to resign her seat and trigger a by-election so residents could choose their representative under her new party banner. “We are just months after the election and Ms Randall has switched parties,” Hook said. “She should resign so that Birchington residents can make a fresh choice in a by-election about who they want to represent them.”
A Reform UK spokesman confirmed the party had been informed of Randall’s departure and said: “We wish her well for the future. Reform UK continues to have the overwhelming majority of councillors on Kent County Council. We remain committed to our mission of delivering for our residents and ensuring Nigel Farage becomes Britain’s next prime minister.”
UKIP, the party Randall has joined, was led by Farage until 2016 and has remained a minor presence in national politics since his departure. The defection comes months after local elections that increased Reform UK’s representation on the county council and ahead of further political campaigning in the run-up to the next national polls.
Randall posted photographs of herself with former Conservative cabinet minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg at a Reform conference in Birmingham over the weekend, according to social media postings, illustrating her presence at party events shortly before the reported change of affiliation. Kent County Council’s composition and the timing of any potential by-election will be determined by local government rules and any formal resignation or notification from Randall.
Calls for by-elections following party defections have become a recurring point of contention in local politics, with opponents arguing voters should be given the option to confirm or reject a councillor who changes party allegiance shortly after an election. Reform UK’s statement stressed its continued control of the council and its policy focus, while local opposition figures said residents should be offered a fresh choice.
There was no immediate comment from UKIP on Randall’s reported switch beyond media confirmations. Kent County Council did not immediately respond to requests for comment.