At a full council meeting on March 24, it was announced that Councillor Gillian Martin had joined the Reform Party.
Cllr Martin was elected in 2023 to serve Boscombe West as a Labour Councillor.
In the summer of 2025, she left the Labour group and became an independent. Around the same time Councillor Michelle Dower also left Labour and became an independent member.
Following Cllr Martin’s defection, Reform UK now has three members in BCP Council after the defections of Councillor Cameron Adams and Councillor Duane Farr in October 2025.
In February, it was announced that Councillor Rachel Pattinson-West had left the Liberal Democrats and joined the Green Party, becoming the first Green councillor in Poole.
More information is still coming out about the most recent defection, Reform UK has been contacted for comment.