Reform UK, the party led by Nigel Farage, has launched a branch in York.

Some 30 supporters attended the first meeting of the branch which will serve both the York Central and York Outer constituencies, currently held by Labour.

The move follows party chairman Zia Yusuf saying Reform UK is creating branches across the country and will fight for seats on councils.

Already the party has formed branches in Yorkshire including in Harrogate, Wetherby and Easingwold, plus Bridlington and the Wolds.

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The York Reform Branch chairman John Crispin-Bailey is standing in the Haxby and Wiggington ward by-election on November 28.

John said: “Since the national conference in September, and the approval of our party constitution, local groups have been working hard to establish branch teams and reach out to members to form full branches all over the UK. The passion and enthusiasm of Zia Yusuf to roll up sleeves and get us to work on this task is energising members all over the country.”

In the General Election in July, Reform UK gained more than 10,000 votes in York, beating the Lib-Dems. The party expects its UK membership will soon top 100,000.

John, who also sits on Wiggington Parish Council, continued: “The first reach-out meeting was a great start with 30 supporters joining us. We raised a substantial amount of donations and members were very engaged in the discussions. We already have many hundreds of signed-up supporters locally, so we know we have a very active local reform base.”

He added: “This is a long-haul. We have council elections in 2027, and a general election likely in 2029. Our first priority is to build a Reform UK base in the local council wards, and in York  to challenge Labour’s fragile one-seat majority control. We will certainly be standing wherever and whenever opportunities arise – our supporters need a voice locally as well as in Westminster”