Lib Dem Councillor Joins Reform UK

Jason Fazackerley's party change means Reform UK now has eight councillors in Portsmouth.

sarah

Nov 12, 2025 - 20:58

Lib Dem Councillor Joins Reform UK

A Liberal Democrat councillor on Portsmouth City Council has left the party to join Reform UK.

Jason Fazackerley, the city's former Lord Mayor and first elected to the city council in 1995, said the move reflects his "changing political outlook and growing frustration with the direction of the Liberal Democrat administration."

The Portsmouth Liberal Democrats said Mr. Fazackerley has a history of party switching and has been a member of five parties.

Councillor George Madgwick, leader of the Reform UK group on the council, said they were "delighted" to welcome Mr. Fazackerley, who he said "has decades of experience and a reputation for putting residents before politics."

This increases the number of Reform UK councillors to eight in the city, which is currently governed by the Liberal Democrats as a minority administration.

Portsmouth City Council's new composition:

Lib Dem - 18

Labour - 9

Reform - 8

Conservative - 4

Portsmouth Independent Party - 2

Independent - 1

Mr Fazackerley, who represents Nelson Ward, said: "People change their views over time, and politics shouldn't change either."

"My views have changed, and so have the concerns of residents. Reform UK now better reflects my approach and my commitment to standing up for local people."

Portsmouth Liberal Dems Vice-Chairman Ian Holder said: "Jason Fazackerley regularly changes parties on Portsmouth City Council.

"He has been a member of five parties – the Greens, Labour, an independent councillor, a Liberal Dem, and now Reform. It is regrettable, but not unexpected, that he has changed parties once again."

The decision comes after Joseph Standen of Reform UK won the Paulsgrove by-election last month, after Portsmouth Independent Party (PIP) councillor Brian Madgwick – the father of George Madgwick – resigned.

In October, four city councillors joined Reform UK.

Derek North, Russell Simpson, Matthew Cordy, and Chris Dyke were all members of the PIP group.