In Ladywood, Birmingham, a tight local elections race is unfolding, with Jade Cotton, a disabled Reform UK candidate, at the center of controversy. Cotton, 38, who has cerebral palsy, has quit the party, citing failures in disability access and disillusionment with its policies on disability and LGBTQ+ rights. However, her resignation came after the candidate list closed, meaning she will still appear on the ballot as a Reform candidate on Thursday, May 7.
Cotton, who uses a mobility wheelchair, stated she felt 'unseen' after raising complaints with Reform UK leaders. She hopes voters will still support her bid for a city council seat, promising to sit as an Independent if elected. She is one of 12 candidates in a ward currently held by Labour, with the Greens and Liberal Democrats seen as frontrunners for the two available seats.
Cotton's Decision and Party Response
Cotton explained that she had to repeatedly remind Reform officials to make 'basic adjustments' for her disability, which also includes epilepsy and scoliosis. She was also troubled by being 'not allowed' to create personalized, disability-accessible campaign materials, instead being forced to follow a strict party template. Correspondence shows she informed the party of her intention to send leaflets declaring her independence, a move Reform said it could not tolerate.
Despite having no prior political experience, Cotton was initially drawn to Reform's stance on the cost of living crisis and illegal immigration. However, she stated, 'I realised that Reform doesn’t respect the LGBTQ+ community or the disabled community at all.' She has faced criticism from party members for persisting as an independent but stands by her decision, emphasizing integrity and representation for her ward.
Reform UK issued a statement thanking Cotton for her support and wishing her well.
Ward Dynamics and Candidate Views
Lee Dargue, a Liberal Democrat candidate, commented on the confusion caused by Cotton's ballot listing but welcomed her departure from Reform. He predicted a close contest between the Lib Dems and Greens, with Labour hurt by national and local governance issues. Dargue highlighted key voter concerns such as flytipping, graffiti, speeding, bins, and anti-Labour sentiment. He also noted the £2 billion regeneration of Ladywood, which has sparked controversy over transparency and housing repairs.
The full list of candidates includes:
- Conservatives: Cindy Yip and Abigail Smith
- Labour: Sally Benton and Satvir Dosanjah
- Liberal Democrats: Lee Dargue and Zoobia Noor
- Greens: Siobhan Harper-Nunes and Raheem Humphreys
- Reform: Abinhav Pandey and Jade Cotton
- Independents: Gary Cressman and Deborah Maragh
Voters will select two candidates to represent the ward.
