Reform councillor breaches rules by being leader of his own political party

A Reform UK Oldham councillor has breached party rules by also being the leader of his own political party.

The Electoral Commission names Paul Taylor, who was elected councillor in May, as the leader of the Northern Heart party, which ran candidates as recently as the local elections.

However, Reform’s rules state that membership “is not open to current members of other GB-registered political parties”.

The party told The Independent his membership was an “oversight” and Mr Taylor was now in the process of resigning. Mr Taylor said Reform had been aware.

Northern Heart, which was founded in 2020, describes itself as a change from the “main political offerings” and “a registered political party that offers a platform and support for those who wish to reclaim their cities, towns and communities, across the north and beyond.”

According to its website, it promises to provide “a rallying point, for those who have become disengaged, disheartened, or left without any ‘real’ representation from the main political offerings locally, regionally and nationally.

“We are a party of more traditional perspectives and values, that believes in ‘free speech’, value for money, defence of greenbelt and green spaces, safer streets and the development of the local economy to support local people with employment opportunities and a nice home town environment.”

The Waterhead ward representative declared his party when he was elected in May. He has stood in four previous local elections for Northern Heart since it was established. In 2024, he came last, receiving just 93 votes. He also stood for UKIP in 2019.

Mr Taylor was elected this year after winning 1,459 votes as a Reform candidate.

He told The Independent he decided to stand as a Reform councillor after the independent movement in Oldham was “decimated by independent groups that once elected, then went on to betray the trust of the electorate that made them local councillors”.

He added that being elected as an independent was now “impossible”.

Asked if he intended to stand as a Northern Heart candidate in the future, he said: “Nobody can see the future, but my hope is to save Oldham under the Reform banner ably assisted by the most competent group of councillors this town has ever seen.”

A Reform UK spokesman said: “Cllr Taylor is in the process of resigning from Northern Heart. His membership was an oversight on his part.”

His wife, Anne Taylor, who is listed as the treasurer of Northern Heart, stood for the party in the same Oldham local election, but lost. She has run for the party five times.

A link on the website to the party’s X account connects to Paul Taylor’s account, which has shared pro-Reform and pro-Northern Heart content.

Northern Heart also describes itself as “a free speech zone” for people who don’t need to fear “wokeist or establishment retribution”.

“Have you ever been put on the social media naughty step for speaking your mind?” it asks prospective members. “Come and join the Northern Heart free speech platform.

“We welcome all that choose to stand with us, regardless of prior political allegiance, providing we share the same ‘core values’ and a heart that is open, to providing a joint message of renewal, together.”

Mr Taylor said there was “not a great deal” of difference between the parties at local level, which is why he “felt comfortable moving from the independent movement into a more robust nationally focused offering as I have no intention of pursuing a higher calling as an MP.”