A Worcestershire county councillor has defected from Reform UK to the Conservative Party – and said one of the reasons was because nobody was prosecuted for painting roundabouts with the cross of St George.
Councillor Karl Perks said he wanted the council to consider prosecutions last year, only to be “criticised” and “isolated” by fellow Reform politicians who did not agree with him.
He also said he felt “increasingly uncomfortable” within the party after he tried to ask questions about it, resulting in his switch.
Perks was a cabinet member for transport under the council’s previous Reform administration, but was fired in March after a series of disagreements.
Last year he described the painting of red crosses on roundabouts and other council property as “acts of vandalism”, but no prosecutions took place over it.
Perks, in a statement, said: “During the Raise the Colours campaign, I supported the display of both the union flag and the cross of St George.
“What I could not support was criminal damage to public property.
“As the cabinet member responsible for highways, I condemned the painting of roundabouts, road signs and other public assets and stated that – where offences had been committed – prosecution should be considered.
“I believed then, and still believe today, this was entirely consistent with a party that claimed to support zero tolerance towards crime.
“Instead I found myself criticised, abused and isolated by Reform.”
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