Two Conwy Council Conservative councillors, Thomas Montgomery and Louise Emery, have defected to Reform UK citing disappointment in the main parties.

Thomas Montgomery, deputy mayor of Llandudno, stressed the need for a party "with better policies for working people", whilst Louise Emery, county councillor for Gogarth Mostyn, praised "Reform UK's common-sense manifesto."

In response, Conservative MS Janet Finch Saunders called for council by-elections, saying the defections were a disservice to the party they were elected to serve.

Meanwhile, Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd criticised their former colleague Laura Anne Jones, as "lacking principles" for moving to Reform.

Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage unveiled Jones as Reform's first Senedd member on his visit to the Royal Welsh Show earlier today.