A Southampton city councillor has left the Conservative Party to join Reform UK, marking a shift in the local political landscape just before the city faces a major change in how it is governed. Sarah Powell-Vaughan, who represented the Sholing ward as a Conservative for nearly seven years, announced her switch on 24 February 2026, becoming the first representative for her new party on the local council.
The move occurred only hours before a full council meeting held on 25 February 2026, where members gathered to set the budget for the 2026/27 financial year. This budget included a 4.99% council tax increase, which brings the annual charge for Band D properties to £1,998.18.
Powell-Vaughan stated she left her former party due to frustrations over the budget process. She explained that she had drafted an alternative spending plan focusing on road maintenance, parks, open spaces, and restoring free car parking in district centres, but struggled to get support from her colleagues. According to Powell-Vaughan, only one member of the shadow cabinet provided the necessary figures to help her draft a deliverable plan, leading the group to decide against putting forward any alternative proposals.
Peter Baillie, the leader of the Conservative group, expressed disappointment with the decision and distanced the party from her proposed budget, stating it could not be linked to the Conservative Party. Powell-Vaughan has cited a need for decisive leadership and secure borders as key reasons for her move, noting she wants to support a government that reflects the views of the mainstream majority. The councillor, who has previously attended protests regarding the use of hotels for asylum accommodation, joins a party that had 963 councillors across the country as of January 2026.
This political change comes during a period of significant transition for the area. On 25 March 2026, the government announced that Southampton City Council will be abolished and replaced by a new South West Hampshire Council as part of a major reorganisation of local government in the region. While the current Labour administration continues to hold a majority, the May 2026 local elections will serve as the final time residents vote for representatives to the existing city council before it is replaced.
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