Councillor Bandna Chopra has officially defected from the Labour Party to join Reform UK. The announcement makes her the first sitting councillor in Hounslow to represent the party, just weeks before the critical local elections in May.
The defection is a major blow to Hounslow Labour, particularly following the recent passing of her ward colleague Jagdish Sharma MBE, which had already left the Hounslow West team in a state of transition.
1. A High-Profile Departure
Councillor Chopra, a prominent figure in the Hounslow West ward and a former President of the Women in Banking and Finance Group, cited a "fundamental disconnect" between the national Labour leadership and the needs of local residents.
The Reason for Joining: Chopra stated that Reform UK’s focus on "common-sense" local spending and their opposition to further ULEZ-style expansion resonated with her constituents.
The Timing: Coming just 25 days before the 7 May local elections, the move leaves Labour scrambling to defend a seat they have held for decades.
2. A "First" for Hounslow
While Reform UK has seen a surge in candidates—including Xavier Fernandes and Scott Parkins in other wards—Chopra gives the party an immediate, experienced voice within Hounslow House.
"For too long, Hounslow has been treated as a one-party state where residents' concerns are ignored in favour of City Hall’s agenda," Chopra said in her inaugural Reform UK statement. "I am joining Reform because they are the only party willing to challenge the status quo and put Hounslow residents first."
3. The Changing Face of the Council
Chopra’s move is part of a broader trend of fragmentation within Hounslow Council. The 2026 election landscape has already seen:
Multiple Labour councillors leaving to sit as Independents.
Guy Lambert defecting to the Green Party.
Reform UK gaining over 960 councillors nationwide through a recent wave of January defections.