THE deputy mayor of Camborne has challenged a Cornwall councillor to resign after he jumped ship from Reform UK to Restore Britain.

Cllr Reece Weatherburn, Mebyon Kernow councillor for Four Lanes, Beacon and Troon on Camborne Town Council, said Cllr Bruce Craze – who represents the same division on Cornwall Council – should step down to make way for a by-election.

Cllr Craze accused Cllr Weatherburn of “playing politics” and “pushing his own personal ambitions”.

Cllr Craze resigned as a Reform councillor last month to join Rupert Lowe’s far-right Restore Britain party, and is now the second Restore councillor sitting on Cornwall Council after the former deputy leader of Reform in Cornwall, Cllr Roger Tarrant, switched to the relatively new party.

“It is not appropriate for Cllr Craze to continue sitting as the Cornwall councillor, while he represents a party that nobody in Four Lanes, Beacon and Troon voted for,” said Cllr Weatherburn.

“The people should be represented by a councillor who actually listens and works in the best interest of our community.”

Reform’s leader at Cornwall Council, Cllr Paul Ashton, accused Cllr Craze of “ongoing poor performance as a councillor and lack of commitment to Reform UK generally”, adding: “It’s a shame he has decided to take this step instead of addressing these concerns directly.”

Cllr Craze responded: “Switching parties was me using my best judgement on how best to serve the amazing people within Four Lanes, Beacon and Troon.

“I could see the party I stood for at the last Cornwall Council election had weakened on its pledges and moved in a different direction. The party which most represents what I stood for when I was voted in is Restore Britain, which I know will help me serve my residents better.”