Former West Northants Reform UK councillor joins Lib Dems

A former Reform UK cabinet member on West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) has now joined the Liberal Democrat group.

Nadia Lincoln Local Democracy Reporter | Tuesday 1st September 2026 6:01pm

Cllr Kathryn Shaw previously stepped down from her role as portfolio holder for children, families and education at the start of 2026. In March, she later quit the Reform UK group completely, becoming an independent.

The political shift will now make the Liberal Democrats joint second-largest opposition groups at the council – alongside the West Northants Labour group, which also has eight elected councillors.

Speaking about her decision, Cllr Shaw said: “Over the past eight months, I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on what matters most to me, both as a councillor and as a person. For me, it has always been about people before politics, with children, families and our communities at the forefront of everything I do.

“Joining the Liberal Democrats feels like the right next step, alongside a group who share that strong community focus and who understand the importance of putting residents first.

“I have also been consistently impressed by the calibre of the Liberal Democrat group. There is a depth of knowledge, intellect, experience and thoughtful challenge within the team that I genuinely believe has a great deal to offer West Northamptonshire.

“I will continue to ask challenging questions, push boundaries and make a bit of noise when it’s needed but always with the same purpose: to make a genuine difference to the people I represent.”

The Upton councillor was elected to WNC for the first time in the May 2025 local elections, which saw Reform take overall control from the Conservatives. Cllr Shaw has sat as an independent councillor for the last six months, after spending 10-months in the Reform administration.

Welcoming her to the group, leader of the Liberal Democrats at WNC, Cllr Jonathan Harris said: “We are delighted that Kathryn has decided to join the Liberal Democrats. It is clear that Kathryn is passionate about making a difference to the people of West Northants.

“We welcome her energy, enthusiasm, commitment and experience to the team and we are looking forward to supporting her in her work. 

“She joins our group as another community-focused councillor; Lib Dem Councillors work hard to support their communities and have a strong desire to make a difference to people’s lives.”

After the defection, the political makeup of the unitary council is:

Reform UK: 39 councillors

Conservative: 17 

Labour: 8 

Lib Dems: 8 

Restore Britain: 2 

Independents: 2

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