THURROCK has its first Reform Party councillor after Stanford East and Corringham Town ward representative Alex Anderson announced he is joining the right-wing group following the success in May's general election of James McMurdock, who became of just five candidates to make it to parliament.

In the wake of Mr McMurdock's success, and that of fellow member Sophie Preston-Hall who pushed sitting Tory Dame Jackie Doyle-Price into third place when she finished second in the Thurrock constituency, Cllr Anderson has signed up for Reform and is encouraging others in Thurrock to follow his lead and fight next year's local elections under the guidance of party leader Nigel Farage.

In February this year Cllr Anderson had the Conservative whip removed by the local party after he declined to support their budget plans for 2024-5.

Alongside fellow Tory and former UKIP and then Thurrock Independent Group member Jack Duffin, also a Stanford East and Corringham Town ward councillor, Cllr Anderson decided to sit as a non-aligned independent member.

Mr Duffin, whose term was up in May, turned his back on his ward and challenged the Tory hierarchy in their safe seat of Orsett and gave his former Tory colleague and TV celebrity David van Day a good run, finishing just 87 votes adrift of springing an upset.

Mr Duffin, a former associate and UKIP party activist under Mr Farage when they came close to taking control of Thurrock Council in 2016, is believed to be working with Reform as they plot their 2025 Thurrock election strategy, and it will be no surprise to local political observers if he too stands on a Reform ticket.

NNigel Farage at the Wyledecrast Club for ET Community FC's first match, with former Cllr Jack Duffin on the far right

He was instrumental, as a leading member of the newly-formed East Thurrock Community FC in inviting Mr Farage and Mr McMurdock to the club's first match, less than 24 hours after the new Reform MP's South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency victory had been confirmed.

Cllr Anderson, then a teenager, was first elected as a Stanford East and Corringham Town Conservative councillor in 2018, and he held the ward in the 2022 election.

During his time in the Tory ranks, among his roles in the administration Cllr Anderson served as both vice-chair chair on the Planning, Transport, Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee when items on his watch included the botched Stanford rail station project, cutting of local rural bus services and the eventually-abandoned Grays underpass scheme.

He was chair of the O&S committee at a time when the Conservatives declined to offer senior positions to opposition members and promoted a host of relatively inexperienced councillors to well-paid roles. The young councillor received an additional payment of more than £7,000 in addition to his basic allowance of more than £9,000.

Teenager Alex Anderson was welcomed to the Thurrock Council ranks by then MP Jackie Doyle-Price in 2018.

At the time the Conservatives were accused of cronyism and self-interest by opposition groups, but today (Monday, 2 September) Cllr Anderson, who went from chair to vice-chair following the demise of then leader Cllr Rob Gledhill when the council's financial collapse occurred, appears to have forgotten he was a significant beneficiary of grace and favour.

In a statement he said: "The past 14 years have demonstrated the modern Conservative party's commitment to cronyism and mass uncontrolled migration."

He then turned his anger on Labour, adding: "The Labour party have been in government barely three months and have made it their priority to cut winter fuel payments for pensioners who've paid into the system for 50 years, while spending billions on hotels for people who've illegally entered Britain.

"Thurrock's all out council elections in May 2025 present hard-working voters the opportunity to tell our failing political class 'enough is enough' and put an end to years of disastrous Labour/Conservative rule."

Mr McMurdock welcomed the recruitment of Cllr Anderson and said: "I am delighted to welcome Cllr Anderson to Reform. His decision to join us reflects the growing momentum for change in Thurrock.

"We have a unique opportunity in May 2025, with all 49 council seats up for election.

"To seize this moment, we need dedicated, skilled and caring individuals to step forward and help shape the future of our community.

"You certainly don't need to be a seasoned politician - I certainly wasn.t when I first stepped forward,

"If you share my passion for making Thurrock a better place, I encourage you to consider becoming a councillor for Reform."