A former Tory council leader in London has become the latest to quit the Conservatives for Nigel Farage’s Reform party.
Dan Thomas was the leader of Barnet council between 2019 and 2022, prior to it being seized by Labour in the 2022 borough elections.
He has been a Tory councillor for 19 years. Barnet council covers Finchley – the parliamentary seat where Margaret Thatcher rose to power and to eventually become Prime Minister between 1979 and 1990.
The 2022 local election defeat was the first time that Labour had taken outright control of the council for so long synonymous with Thatcherism.
Mr Thomas, announcing the decision to quit the Conservatives in a statement issued by Reform on Monday afternoon, said the Tory party “has left him”.
He added, in an attack on Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, that he “feels let down by weak national leadership and so many broken promises”.
However, Brian Coleman, a former London Assembly member for Barnet and Camden, said: “He won’t be missed.”
Mr Thomas is believed to be the third London Tory councillor to quit the party recently for Reform.
Reform said that it expected further Tory defections in the coming weeks.
Last week The Standard revealed that Laila Cunningham, a Tory member of Westminster council, had defected to Reform as she was “tired of defending failure”.
Mr Thomas said: “I joined Reform because of their unwavering commitment to defending British culture, identity, and values.
“It’s clear the two-party system is broken — only Reform has the strength and momentum to defeat Labour. I trust them to put the British public first, something no other party is willing to do.”
He added: "We need real change. I think Labour and the Conservatives have become the same thing – high immigration, high taxes, high energy bills because of net zero.
“Only Reform will put the British people first, protect pensioners, fix the NHS, and reinstate winter fuel payments.”
Alex Wilson, Reform’s sole London Assembly member, welcomed Mr Thomas to the party.
“His decision reflects growing disillusionment with the direction of London under Sadiq Khan’s leadership — rising crime, failing transport, and unaffordable living,” Mr Wilson said. “More and more people are backing real change and realising Reform UK are the real opposition in London.”
A Reform Spokesperson said: “We’re delighted to have Daniel join us. We welcome anyone who shares our vision for integrity, accountability, and meaningful change to join us.”
However, Mr Coleman, speaking in a personal capacity, said Mr Thomas’s period as council leader had been a failure.
He said he had introduced traffic enforcement cameras and on-street planters to slow traffic – policies opposed by Reform.
Mr Thomas, who represents Finchley Church End ward, announced last year that he was stepping down as Tory opposition leader on the council following the birth of a son.
It is understood that he had planned to step down from Barnet council at next year’s Londonwide borough elections.
There are suggestions that he plans to stand for Reform on the Welsh assembly.
Cllr Peter Zinkin, the Tory opposition leader in Barnet, said: “Dan has been a valued colleague and friend to many of us over the past 20 years.
“He informed us several months ago that this would be his final year serving as a councillor in Barnet, having moved to the West Country to be closer to his family and raise his children there.
“We understand that his decision to join Reform UK reflects a change in his national political outlook. We recognise and appreciate the significant contribution he made as a Conservative councillor.”
