THURROCK Council may have its second Reform councillor, though no official announcement has yet been made.

The resignation of Tilbury Riverside and Thurrock Park councillor John Allen from the Non-Political Alliance of Independent Councillors (NPAIC) has been confirmed following Cllr Allen's decision to accept a role as vice-chair of the Thurrock Branch of the Reform party.

Cllr Allen has been a supporter of many of Reform's policies for some time and has previously campaigned for the group and has made several social media posts backing its views.

The step to becoming a Reform party official at the weekend precipitated his split from the previously eight-strong independent group.

Its spokesperson, Cllr Neil Speight, said: "After discussion over the weekend with Cllr Allen, we have agreed that for the sake of openness and honesty, he will step away from the Non-Political Alliance of Independent Councillors and will stand either as a 'non aligned' independent councillor or as a Reform member.

"He has not notified me of his choice but I am sure it will be declared by the council democracy team as soon as they know.

"John clearly supports parts, if not all, of the Reform manifesto and is taking a group role with the party in Thurrock to help promote it.

"That is incongruous with our group constitution of having no political alliance and we feel it best he makes the distinction clear.

"The remaining seven group members will continue to challenge and question the administration of Thurrock Council - and support it where applicable. Our primary aim is effective representation of borough residents, regardless of their race, creed, religion or political affiliation.

"We represent residents and local businesses, not political dogma. Going forward we will be looking how best to present a manifesto for the 2025 local elections that highlights our shared aims of putting people, not politics, first.

"On a personal level I must pay tribute to the hard work Cllr Allen puts in for residents in his ward and, above all, the passion and commitment he puts into all things Tilbury."

Former Conservative, and then non-aligned indepedent councillor Alex Anderson, announced his switch to join Reform in early September.