Former Reform councillor claims concerns over 'safeguarding issue' went ignored

 

Former Reform councillor claims concerns over 'safeguarding issue' went ignored

Joshua Nichol

Wed, 16 September 2026 at 9:48 am CEST

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/former-reform-councillor-claims-concerns-074840200.html

 

A former Reform UK County Durham councillor has quit the party claiming her concerns over a "serious safeguarding issue" went ignored by party leaders.

 

Bishop Auckland councillor Lyndsey Fox was interviewed by Sky News presenter Cathy Newman after becoming one of three councillors to resign from Reform UK at Durham County Council on Tuesday (September 15) - with Reform's majority on Durham County Council now just three councillors.

 

Reform has yet to comment on the councillor's claims.

 

Cllr Fox said she decided to leave the party because she had "heard nothing" back from Reform's leadership after raising the "serious safeguarding concern" in July.

 

She said: "I subsequently reported to the police and to the Police and Crime Commissioner. There is an active police investigation and, for that reason, I will not discuss publicly the underlying details."

 

Bishop Auckland county councillor, Lyndsey Fox (Image: Durham County Council)

 

She added: "Following the Sky investigation last week that aired on Sunday night, I got a message from the leader basically offering me roles within the council if I got more visible again.

 

"What really, really kind of pushed it over in the end [is]... I read that message repeatedly and thought, you know, he's not addressing the report that I made to him.

 

"I've heard from nobody about what they're going to do within the party, let alone the leader.

 

"And that scares me."

 

Her appearance comes amid growing turmoil within Reform's flagship local authority, where a series of resignations, suspensions and defections have reduced the party's majority since it swept to power in the May 2025 local elections.

 

The resignation follows a recent Sky News investigation into allegations of chaos, bullying and infighting within the Reform-run authority.

 

 

Sky said it had spoken to former councillors and others connected to the council as part of its reporting.