Former Reform leader resigns mid-investigation, party says

Former leader of Oldham Reform councillor Lewis Quigg has resigned mid-investigation while another elected member has been suspended, the party have said.

On October 22, Reform Oldham announced Coun Quigg had resigned from the party with immediate effect. The Royton North councillor had led Oldham’s second largest party until he was replaced by Mark Wilkinson in September.

Mr Wilkinson then stood down as both leader of the group and Failsworth West councillor triggering a by-election. Reform Oldham is now led by Waterhead Coun Paul Taylor.

The LDRS can also reveal St James Coun Gary Tarbuck has also been suspended from the party. The two cases are understood to not be linked.
When approached for comment, a Reform UK spokesman said: “Coun Tarbuck was suspended from Reform UK pending investigation. Coun Quigg resigned from the Reform group mid-investigation.”

Couns Quigg or Tarbuck have both been approached for comment but no response was received at the time of publication. Coun Quigg is currently listed as an independent on Oldham council’s website.

Earlier today, the Oldham branch of Reform put out a statement on their Facebook page, which said: “The Oldham Reform Group can confirm that Councillor Lewis Quigg has resigned from the Reform Group with immediate effect.

“This decision follows a difference of perspective regarding internal policy matters.”

Coun Quigg’s resignation from Reform UK and Coun Tarbuck’s suspension now temporarily leaves the party with only 13 councillors in the council chamber. However they are still the second largest group in the borough behind Labour.

Next month, Reform will be hoping to keep hold of the Failsworth West seat vacated by Mr Wilkinson. The party has previously won all three seats in the ward and won nearly 56pc of the vote in 2026.

Despite Reform winning a majority of seats in the last election across Oldham, they did not secure a majority within the council chamber. Oldham council is currently without a leader though an interim arrangement is currently in place.