A Reform UK council candidate in Croydon has resigned and thrown his support behind Executive Mayor Jason Perry, warning that a vote for Reform risks handing control of the borough back to Labour.
Kosta Dexiades, who was due to stand as a Reform candidate in Waddon, announced he has left the party after witnessing what he described as “chaos” behind the scenes.
His resignation follows a string of high-profile departures from Reform in Croydon this week, including former chairman and mayoral candidate Daniel Tebbutt and multiple council candidates.
In a statement, Kosta Dexiades said:
“What I’ve seen behind the scenes isn’t leadership - it’s chaos. Decisions imposed from the centre. Local people ignored.
And now a mayoral candidate forced on Croydon at the last minute - a professional politician who wasn’t even part of this movement weeks ago who just wants to be an MP in Derbyshire.
That’s not how you run a borough like Croydon.
This election isn’t national - it’s local. And here, it’s a two-horse race.
Labour nearly destroyed this borough. We cannot go back to that.
The reality is simple: a vote for Reform here doesn’t change the system - it just helps Labour win.
That’s why I’m backing Jason Perry. He’s already getting Croydon back on track.
You don’t have to agree with him on everything - but if you care about this borough, don’t risk it.”
Responding to the endorsement, Jason Perry said:
“I’m grateful to Kosta for his support and for speaking honestly about the situation.
People across Croydon can see the difference we’ve made - stabilising the finances, restoring pride, and getting this borough back on track.
This election is about keeping that progress going.
If we split the vote, we risk going backwards. And after everything Croydon has been through, that’s a risk we simply cannot afford.”
The latest resignation adds to growing concerns about Reform’s ability to mount a credible local campaign in Croydon, with multiple candidates stepping down in recent days.
With the mayoral election on 7 May fast approaching, the choice facing voters is becoming clearer.
If residents want stability, continued progress, and a council focused on delivering for local people, the message from former Reform candidates is clear:
Don’t risk it. Keep Croydon moving forward.
Vote for Jason Perry and the local Conservatives on 7 May.