Farage unveils two Labour defectors as he makes a push for London votes

Farage admitted his party lacks ‘experience on the front line’ as he welcomed former mayor and councillor NewsUKUK PoliticsFarage unveils two Labour defectors as he makes a push for London votesFarage admitted his party lacks ‘experience on the front line’ as he welcomed former mayor and councillorDavid Maddox Political Editor Wednesday 04 March 2026 10:42 GMTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popoverRelated video: Question Time audience praises guest's sharp rebuke of Reform's Zia YusufYour support helps us to tell the storyRead moreSupport NowFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read moreNigel Farage has unveiled two senior Labour figures in London politics as the latest defectors to Reform as he makes a push for votes in the capital ahead of the local elections.Mr Farage welcomed Sir Robin Wales, the former Labour mayor of Newham and former councillor Clive Furness to Reform UK at a press conference in London.Mr Farage admitted that his party’s “weakness” is a lack of “experience on the front line”.open image in galleryRobin Wales is welcomed by Nigel Farage (Getty)Until now the most prominent defectors have been right-wing Tories like Robert Jenrick, Suella Braverman and Nadine Dorries. Sir Robin claimed he was switching because Labour “has lost its moral compass” under Sir Keir Starmer.He claimed that the old two parties “have failed” and denied that Reform is “racist”.Sir Robin has been appointed as the party’s London Director of Local Government, while Mr Furness will serve as his senior advisor and stand as Reform UK’s candidate for Mayor of Newham. Sir Robin said: “After decades fighting for working people in Newham, I’ve seen Labour abandon its roots. Under Sadiq Khan and the Labour leadership across London, the capital has seen soaring crime, failing services, and a party that prioritises the wealthy elite over the working class it was built to represent.open image in galleryReform UK mayoral candidate for Newham, Clive Furness, is unveiled in London (Getty Images)“May will be a referendum on Sadiq Khan and the Labour Party. Only Reform stands for working people and is presenting a real, credible alternative plan to Labour in London.”Mr Furness added: “Labour has clearly and demonstrably failed London. It’s sad to see that even Newham, a borough that Sir Robin and I managed to lift out of deprivation, has gone completely backwards under a Labour mayor and a Labour council that is now completely out-of-touch with the communities it was meant to represent.“That’s why I am joining Reform UK. In May the choice is clear: more of the same high crime, high tax regime with Labour, or real change with Reform.”More aboutNigel FarageLabourNewhamLondonDefectorsJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesCommentsMost popularPopular videosBulletinRead next