'Hokey Cokey behaviour' - Reform UK chiefs slammed after another shock South Tyneside Council resignation

A Reform UK councillor's move to leave the party and sit as an independent has been slammed by South Tyneside's political opposition, with calls for more transparency from council bosses.

Councillor Alex Barr, who was elected to represent the Primrose ward in May 2026, is said to have resigned from Reform UK on Tuesday (August 11, 2026) and is now listed as an independent on the council's website.

Councillor Paul Mackings, leader of the council and the borough’s Reform UK Group, confirmed in a social media statement that Cllr Barr had "resigned voluntarily" and that he would "continue to represent Primrose ward as an independent councillor until further notice."

There is no by-election expected as Cllr Barr remains a councillor, although the local authority needs to review committee appointments to "ensure they reflect the new political balance."

The reasons for Cllr Barr's resignation still remain unclear and opposition councillors have slammed the defection, as well as asking questions of the new Reform UK administration.

Council leader Cllr Paul Mackings, responding, said Cllr Barr's decision to resign from Reform UK "is a matter for him" and that the ruling Reform group's focus "remains on representing residents and delivering on the issues that matter" to them.

Councillor Rachael Taylor, Green Group leader, said Primrose residents "deserve clarity" and added residents who had voted “based on the Reform label deserve transparency about the changes that have taken place since”.

While stressing she didn’t want another “expensive” by-election after the recent Harton ward by-election, Cllr Taylor said there was still a democratic question about "councillors leaving the party under which they were elected without residents having the opportunity to decide whether they still want them as their representative”.

She added: “The repeated changes within the Reform group raise questions about stability and the amount of council officer time being spent reorganising committee allocations and responsibilities.

“South Tyneside residents deserve political stability, more transparency than we have previously had and councillors who can work constructively together in their best interests.”

Cllr Barr becomes the second South Tyneside Reform UK councillor to resign from the party since the historic local elections in May, which saw Reform win 41 seats.

Reform UK councillor Alex Clarke, who was elected in the Harton ward, stepped down just weeks into the role following reports of offensive comments made on a podcast, which Clarke described as a comedy‑based show.

Clarke’s resignation as a councillor meant that there was a by-election in the Harton ward, which was won last Thursday (August 6) by Reform UK candidate Katie Groom.

Councillor Kate Owens-Palmer, of the council's opposition South Tyneside Alliance Group, noted the lack of explanation for Cllr Barr's resignation in Primrose ward and said the “Reform selection process appears highly questionable both locally and nationally”.

She said: “I am of the opinion that the Reform councillor for Primrose has brought nothing useful to South Tyneside in his new role.

“More disruption is the last thing our council, and our borough, needs, and I feel extremely sorry for the residents, who expect, and deserve, a stable council who are fully committed to working for them.”

Councillor Geraldine Kilgour, the council's sole Labour representative, added she was writing to Cllr Barr and council leader Cllr Mackings to “seek answers to questions from our community”.

She said: “It would be utterly shameful that his four-year term should be played out as an independent when the people of Primrose rejected the sitting Independents in May.

“Our community are experiencing first hand, the 'hokey cokey' behaviours and ramifications that Reform UK cause. Labour are being renewed and refreshed to serve our community on South Tyneside.”

Reform UK were approached for comment and South Tyneside Council leader, Cllr Paul Mackings, said "Cllr Barr's decision to resign from the Reform UK Group is a matter for him".

The council leader added: "Our focus remains on representing residents and delivering on the issues that matter to people across South Tyneside.

"The political make-up of the council has changed, but our commitment to residents has not."

Independent councillor Alex Barr was also approached for comment.

The political share of South Tyneside Council is now 40 Reform UK councillors, 10 Green Party councillors, three independents and one Labour Party representative.