Richard Bingley branches out from Tories, Labour and Ukip to stand for Reform

Richard Bingley, a candidate for Britain’s most ideologically free-ranging politician. Photograph: Plymouth city council

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 Britain’s most ideologically free-ranging politician, coming three years after he quit as leader of another council – Plymouth.