The Conservative leader on Stoke-on-Trent City Council has defected to Reform UK – saying only Nigel Farage's party will bring the change the city needs.

Dan Jellyman, councillor for Hanford, Newstead and Trentham and a former Tory parliamentary candidate, has become Reform's second elected member on the city council.

Two other Conservative city councillors – Heather Blurton and Maxine Clark – have also left the party and will sit as unaligned councillors.

Cllr Jellyman had been the leader of the opposition Conservative group since the party's election defeat in 2023, having previously served as deputy council leader.

He said he had fought to deliver 'real, transformative change' for Stoke-on-Trent, but had seen these efforts hampered by 'unelected, out-of-touch bureaucrats'.

Cllr Jellyman said Conservative and Labour governments had failed to bring about the change needed to boost Stoke-on-Trent's prospects.

He said: "The Levelling Up money was a step in the right direction, but the fact that only one of the six projects has been delivered so far shows how difficult it is to get anything done. Neither the Conservatives or Labour have been able to fix that problem.

"Nigel Farage is the only politician who is offering real change. He's identified the problems and is coming up with solutions.

"It was a difficult decision to leave the Conservatives. I've been a member of the Conservative Party for nearly 18 years, so for most of my adult life. But I've never shied away from making difficult choices. Sometimes you have to do what you believe is the right thing."

Cllr Jellyman's defection is a further blow to a Conservative Party that was once the rising force in Stoke-on-Trent politics.

The party ran the city council between 2015 and 2023, initially in coalition with the City Independents and then on their own, and Tory candidates won all three parliamentary seats in Stoke-on-Trent in 2019.

But Labour regained control of the council in 2023, before winning back the three parliamentary seats the following year.

Conservative councillors Heather Blurton (left) and Maxine Clark (right) have also left the party and will sit as unaligned councillors (images via LDRS)

As cabinet member for regeneration, Cllr Jellyman played a key role in Stoke-on-Trent's Levelling Up projects and other major capital schemes. But he resigned as deputy leader shortly before the 2023 election after it emerged he had backed the decision to remove the Capo sculpture in Festival Park which resulted in its destruction.

Cllr Lorraine Beardmore, who is now the interim Conservative group leader on the city council, said: "I would like to thank Daniel for his years of service as a Conservative councillor and local party member.

While it's disappointing that he feels the national party no longer represents his values and beliefs, I respect his decision. We'll miss him in our group and wish him well for the future."

The departure of Cllrs Jellyman, Clark and Blurton leaves the Conservative group with 10 elected members on the city council.

Dean Richardson, chairman of Stoke-on-Trent Conservative Federation, said "The news this morning is very disappointing.

"Over a number of years, the Conservative team here in Stoke has worked hard to build a party that offered residents a real alternative after decades of Labour taking our area for granted.

"The team bond in Stoke has been very strong and has been fundamental to Conservative success in Stoke-on-Trent, and whilst I appreciate that nothing lasts forever and respect the decisions Dan, Heather and Maxine have made, I am saddened that three councillors have left the party today.

"I would like to thank Cllr Jellyman, Cllr Blurton and Cllr Clark for their work during their time with the party. We will now get behind Cllr Lorraine Beardmore as interim group leader and will ensure that we continue to work hard as a team for residents across Stoke-on-Trent."

Luke Shenton, who became Reform UK's first councillor in Stoke-on-Trent when he won the Birches Head and Northwood by-election in May, welcomed Cllr Jellyman's defection.

He said: "I'm delighted to welcome Daniel to Reform UK. I was honoured to become the first Reform UK Councillor on Stoke-on-Trent City Council, and after securing that victory, I said it was just the beginning.

"Daniel's talent and experience will allow us to hold this failing Labour-led council to account for refusing to shut down asylum hotels, for its disastrous plan to concrete over so much of our green space, for letting our roads crumble, and for racking up even more debt that costs residents millions each year in interest payments alone.

"Today's news shows that Reform UK is going from strength to strength here in Stoke-on-Trent.

"We will work tirelessly to earn the trust and votes of residents to win control of Stoke-on-Trent City Council in 2027 and all three parliamentary constituencies at the general election that follows."

A Reform UK spokesperson said: "We're delighted to have Daniel on board. We welcome anyone who shares our vision for integrity, accountability, and meaningful change to join us."