Ex-Tory and Labour councillor Richard Bingley joins Reform for May elections

The much-travelled politician, who has also been a member of Ukip, will stand for election to Thurrock council At first he was a Tory councillor, before switching to Labour. Then came a stint in Ukip, followed by a return to the Conservatives that ended in ignominy amid a row over trees. And now, the much-travelled Richard Bingley is representing Reform. If Bingley is elected to Thurrock council in Essex on 7 May, it will represent something of a resurrection for the man with a case for being...

By Peter Walker Senior political correspondent