Tory quits North Northamptonshire Council and goes to Reform
Jennie Bone, who is the former wife of ex Tory Wellingborough MP, has jumped ship to Reform
By Sarah Ward
A longstanding Conservative councillor who used to manage her former MP husband’s constituency office, has quit the party and joined Reform UK.
Reform UK’s central office announced the move this morning, with Cllr Jennie Bone, who represents the Higham Ferrers ward on North Northamptonshire Council (NNC), saying she is no longer aligned with Conservative values.
She has denied in a brief conversation with NN Journal this morning that the move is opportunistic.
Cllr Bone was married to former Tory MP for Wellingborough Peter Bone for many years. He was kicked out of office by his constituents due to a bullying and sexual misconduct scandal in 2023.
Her departure comes just weeks after she quit her role on Higham Ferrers Town Council.
In a prepared statement issued by Reform UK, Cllr Bone said:
“I am delighted to join the Reform Group at NNC and look forward to working closely with my new colleagues and officers to achieve the best for our residents.
“After being elected as a Conservative council member, I no longer believe their values and policies align with my own. In order to best represent my own views, and the views of my community, I have joined the only party I believe can deliver the change we all need and deserve.
“I am eager to continue my work as a councillor with the renewed backing of Reform UK.”
NN Journal understands the councillor has been kicked out of the Tory WhatsApp Group and some colleagues are shocked by the defection, but apparently the ‘rumour mill had been in full swing, and everyone knew it was coming’.
When we called her, Cllr Bone said she was busy, but when asked whether her move was opportunistic and had an eye on safeguarding her position and accompanying allowances at the next council elections, she said:
“The simple answer is no.”
Welcoming Cllr Bone, Reform UK leader of NNC Cllr Martin Griffiths said:
“Cllr Bone brings a great deal of local government experience and is deeply passionate about her community. She is clearly supportive of the Council’s Corporate Plan and the direction we are taking. I am very pleased to welcome her into the group as a positive addition to our team.”
Her departure is another headache for the Tory group leader on NNC Helen Harrison, who is now married to Cllr Bone’s former husband. Cllr Bone’s departure comes after Cllr Bill McElhinney quit the Tory group last week (as reported by the Northants Telegraph).
Cllr Harrison said:
“I am gutted by the news that Cllr Jennie Bone has defected to Reform UK. Jennie is a good friend and we have worked closely together over the last few years.
“The only people on North Northamptonshire Council who are standing up for Conservative Values are the Conservative Group. Meanwhile Reform are breaking all their election promises. I find her decision hard to understand.”
It now puts Reform UK on 41 councillors and the Conservatives have 11. There are eight green councillors and three independent councillors, so the Greens and independents could form an alliance to challenge the Conservatives as the official opposition.
Reform can hardly be a party of change if they keep recruiting Conservatives to their ranks.
Hardly a shocker.
Reform are just Tories in a lighter shade of blue.
The lot of em are untrustworthy and give not a single sht about the county, only about how well lined their pockets are.