Reform UK has named Jaymey McIvor as its candidate for the upcoming Essex County Council elections in Clacton-on-Sea. The announcement was made in early February 2026, ahead of the county council election scheduled for 7 May 2026, when McIvor will contest a seat on the council.
McIvor previously served as a Conservative councillor before joining Reform UK; he was suspended and later expelled from the Conservative Party in 2024. The BBC has reported that Nigel Farage, the MP for Clacton, has encouraged Conservative county councillors to consider switching to Reform UK.
McIvor has said his campaign will focus on cutting waste in local government and on Essex County Council. Reform UK is positioning his selection as part of a broader plan to increase the party’s influence in the area following its strong performances in national elections in 2024.
The campaign begins as McIvor faces scrutiny over his past business dealings and the circumstances of his departure from the Conservatives. Byline Times reported that a company linked to McIvor entered liquidation with creditor liabilities of about £141,025 — the article highlighted roughly £36,000 as the likely cost to the taxpayer, including a reported £31,000 Bounce Back Loan and unpaid tax to HMRC. The Guardian has also reported allegations about his conduct; McIvor and Reform have described those reports as the result of Tory infighting.
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