New Reform UK Councillor's No-Show At County Hall Initiation Ceremony

A newly-elected Reform UK Isle of Wight councillor was not present at his initiation and swearing in ceremony at County Hall today.

David Maclean, who won the Lake North by-election by securing 291 votes, did not attend the event, two anonymous sources told the press yesterday evening (Tuesday).

He is one of two Reform UK candidates who were elected last week – the rightwing populist party’s first representatives to take office at the Isle of Wight Council.

Mr Maclean was also absent at the Westridge Centre election count in Ryde on Friday.

Central Rural’s new Reform councillor Caroline Gladwin said this was due to a family emergency.

Reform UK has not issued any statement on the absences, despite being approached for comment. Neither has the IW Council.

Not much is know about Mr Maclean and he didn’t speak to the press or issue any statements in the run-up to the election.

A leaflet that appears to have been issued by his campaign describes him as an Island ‘businessman’.

It says:

“As a businessman on the Island I believe I can help to better run our council to the benefit of Lake North residents.

"I will expose council waste, challenge reckless spending, and push for real investment in local priorities.”

The council’s election agents notice for the Lake North by-election gives 1 Heron Square at Island Harbour as his correspondence address.

Following her victory last week, Ms Gladwin said the “old parties had failed” and voters were “looking for something new”.

She said:

“We’re going to be looking out for rural residents and farmers as opposed to the other parties…I will be doing all I can for the residents.

“We’ll be bringing something new to County Hall and reform to County Hall.”