Reform leader steps down

Oldham’s Reform UK group has officially confirmed a ‘change in leadership’ after a week of widespread conjecture on social media.

Coun Lewis Quigg has resigned from his post as group boss, which he’s held since September 2025. He has been replaced by Coun Mark Wilkinson.

The confirmation comes just days after coun Quigg hit back at what he called ‘rumours and hearsay’ about his resignation, stating ‘it is just nonsense’.

In a statement shared on Oldham Reform’s Facebook page, coun Quigg said: “Having served as the founding leader of the Reform UK Group on Oldham Council for the past year, I have seen the party grow from three councillors to sixteen in less than twelve months.

“The past few months have been intensely demanding and all-consuming. I therefore made the difficult decision to resign. I am content with my decision to stand down given the decision to do so was mine alone. I will continue to serve as ward councillor for Royton North and will support Reform UK in any way I can.”

Coun Quigg was approached for further comment.

Under his leadership, the group saw widespread success at the May local election, propelling the party’s presence from a fringe group to the second biggest on the council.

Since May, coun Quigg has consistently argued his party has the mandate to run the local authority based on the strong election results but failed to convince a majority of councillors to support him.

Coun Wilkinson, who represents Failsworth West and previously served as deputy leader,  was elected to replace the outgoing boss. Coun Gary Tarbuck, the St James representative, was elected as Deputy Leader.

Commenting on his appointment, coun Wilkinson said: “I would like to thank Lewis for the work he has undertaken in leading the Reform UK Group on Oldham Council.

“Lewis has played an instrumental role in establishing and building the Reform UK Group from the ground up. His dedication, hard work and commitment have helped lay strong foundations for the future success of Reform UK in Oldham, and on behalf of the entire Group I would like to place on record our sincere thanks for his service.

“I fully understand and respect his decision to step down, and I am pleased that he will continue to serve the residents of Royton North and remain an important member of our team.”

He added the group’s focus would now be on ‘being a strong voice’ in the council and ‘holding the administration to account’.

The local authority is currently without an administration while political groups remain at a political stalemate. Since the local elections, no one group has more than a third of elected members, making it difficult to generate enough support for a single group to lead the council.

With the executive team running the local authority as an emergency measure, the council is currently breaking constitutional law.