An independent Bromley councillor has joined the Conservatives and will contest her seat for the Tories in next year’s council elections.

Bromley’s Conservative Council Leader said the defection shows Bromley residents should choose to vote Tory rather than risk “the inexperience and poor financial management of a Reform-run Council”.

Bromley Conservatives have confirmed that Cllr Sophie Dunbar has joined the controlling party of the South London council, growing its number of councillors to 35. Cllr Dunbar was elected in 2022 as a Biggin Hill Independent in the Biggin Hill ward where she lives and is raising her family.

According to the Conservatives, she is a “well-known and respected” councillor in the area, and during her time on the council she has “championed a variety of causes, including making sure there is the best care possible for SEND children through sitting on the Children, Education and Families Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee”.

Cllr Dunbar said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to be a Councillor for Biggin Hill since 2022, and I have enjoyed working on behalf of residents across the community as their local community champion.

“Whether it’s new developments on our communities’ Green Belt, or financial challenges at the Civic Centre caused by a lack of fair funding, Biggin Hill faces challenges over the next four years.

“To ensure I can best stand up for Biggin Hill, I’ve made the decision to join Bromley Conservatives in their mission to make Bromley an even better place to live.

“I look forward to meeting even more residents, and seeking their support next May so I can continue to be the local champion Biggin Hill deserves.”

Cllr Colin Smith, Leader of Bromley Council and Bromley Conservatives, was “delighted” to welcome Cllr Dunbar to his party.

He said: “Sophie has proven herself to be a dedicated community champion for residents in Biggin Hill, and I know she’ll continue to do so as a local Conservative councillor.”

The council leader also used the defection to look ahead to May’s elections and the potential for Reform to gain more councillors in Bromley.

Alan Cook became the first directly elected London councillor in Nigel Farage’s party when he won a July by-election.

He has since been joined by Cllr Christopher Marlow who defected from the Conservatives last month.

Cllr Smith said: “Sophie’s decision is a clear indication to residents across Bromley of the choice they face next May – either Bromley can risk the inexperience and poor financial management of a Reform-run council currently wreaking chaos across neighbouring Kent, or can stick with their local Conservatives who will continue in our fight to protect our green belt from Sadiq Khan, work to secure the fairer funding needed from the Government to enhance our public services and make Bromley an even better place to live.”

In response, Reform’s Cllr Cook said: “What the Tories are doing is perpetuating mistrust in UK politics by playing political games.

“Reform UK voted against a Tory motion because it was a bad motion not because we want to build on the green belt. If the Tories put forward a motion to feed our school kids manure and fresh vegetables, Reform would vote against it.

“The text on the ensuing Tory leaflet would be ‘Reform voted against feeding our kids fresh vegetables’. Labour is doing the same regarding Reform and the NHS.

“The reality is Reform councils are discovering waste and mismanagement, saving hundreds of millions of tax payers pounds.

“We have never had such intense media interest in local government, someone swears on a zoom call and it’s national news. The legacy parties are in full panic mode, obsessing over Reform UK, while we are getting on with the job.”

Cllr Cook was referring to a recent meeting via video call at Kent County Council, which is run by Reform, where according to a video published by The Guardian, the leader Linden Kemkaran shouted down fellow councillors, told one of them they would be muted and told the group to f***ing suck it up” regarding a decision she had made without their full support.

Four councillors – not including the leader – were subsequently suspended by the party over claims they brought the party into disrepute after the video was reportedly leaked.