Local leadership declares move ‘pathetic’ after seven county councillors join new political party

Cllr Alex Stevenson. Image from Derbyshire County Council.

By Eddie Bisknell – Local Democracy Reporting Service

A total of seven Derbyshire councillors have joined a new political party created by Reform UK’s former deputy leader, in a move dubbed “pathetic” by local leadership.

Both Cllr Alex Stevenson and Cllr Phillip Rose were elected as Conservative members on Derbyshire County Council in 2021 before each being separately suspended. They joined Reform UK before resigning from the party to sit as independents before then failing to retain their seats in 2025.

Now they are among seven Derbyshire councillors who have joined Advance UK, set up by Ben Habib, Reform’s national deputy leader until November 2024.

Of the seven councillors, six sit on Heanor and Loscoe Town Council, including Mayor Alan Abernethy, while some sit on various parish councils and Cllr Rose, along with Cllr Steven Bower (former Labour), are Amber Valley borough councillors.

The seven councillors are: Alan Abernethy, Steven Bower, Laura Brunelleschi, Mark Burrell, Malc Hibbard, Phillip Rose and Alex Stevenson.

Both Cllr Rose and Cllr Stevenson contested the May 2025 county council elections as independents with Cllr Rose finishing fourth, while Cllr Alex Stevenson finished second – both behind successful Reform candidates.

On the same day, Cllr Stevenson failed in a bid to become a borough councillor, finishing in fourth behind a successful Conservative candidate (with no Reform candidate competing), while Cllr Rose won his bid to rejoin the borough as an independent, where there was also no Reform candidate.

Since then, Cllr Rose has sat as an Amber Valley Independent, adding at least a fifth political party to his history alongside UKIP, the Conservatives and Reform.

He had said “we are not Nigel Farage’s chattel” when discussing his resignation from Reform, along with nine other Derbyshire councillors, in January 2025.

Cllr Rose, speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, said: “It is an opportunity to support a fast-growing movement that recognises the difference between a Reform party that has become a part of the establishment and will never make the changes that most Reform members want, never mind ex-Conservative and Labour people.

“Whether or not Advance is the complete answer I am not sure but it is worth giving it a go.

“Personally, I can only talk for myself, I am an independent and I think independently.

“The reason why I have had a number of badges, I take it as a compliment really, is because I never lie down and do what people tell me to do, I do what I think is best for me and if parties don’t like it then they chuck me out.

“It is better to be with a group of people who think in a similar way to yourself and that is what Advance offer.

“Locally, I would be happy to stay as Amber Valley Independents and make that a more permanent party, especially with the unitary council elections coming up, but you are starting from nothing.

“With Advance they have a very similar philosophy and is something I can get behind and build up nationally, not just locally.

“I respect Ben Habib, Howard Cox (former Reform London Mayor candidate and Advance UK college member) and Alex (Stevenson) and the others so it makes sense to fly their flag.

“It will give the public an alternative to Reform. They are a one-man-band and we found out to our cost what that means and I am confident we are going to do well.”

Cllr Stevenson said: “We resigned from Reform UK because that party has lost touch with the grassroots values that inspired it and us. Our loyalty has always been to our constituents, not to a party machine.

“We joined Advance UK because Ben Habib represents the leadership, principles and vision that Britain urgently needs.

“Together we will build the campaign team required to give voters a real alternative at the General Election in 2029.

“Until then and beyond we will represent our constituents to the very best of our ability.”

Cllr Alan Graves, Reform UK’s Derbyshire County Council leader, said: “This is old news, these defections occurred before the last council elections in May 2025 and only two of them were former county councillors, the rest were town councillors or parish councillors.

“It is clear that Alex or Advance UK are trying to ‘big’ up their relevance when actually Reform UK are streets ahead and actually winning elections.

“I don’t know who is running Advance’s press office but it is pathetic to try and resurrect the dead at this stage.

“I used to have a lot of time for Alex, but this is silly.”

Mr Habib said: “I have known Alex Stevenson and his team for well over a year. We campaigned together when I was deputy leader of Reform.

“I am delighted to have them on board at Advance. We are rapidly establishing the party.

“With their assistance we will be well placed to campaign in Derbyshire.”

Mr Habib said Cllr Stevenson’s candidacy as an Advance UK candidate in the upcoming by-elections for the Horsley division on Derbyshire County Council and the Codnor, Langley Mill & Aldercar ward on Amber Valley Borough Council were the first test for the party, adding: “I know, if elected, he will represent his constituents better than anyone.”