Cambridgeshire County Councillor Desmond “Des” Watt has joined Advance UK, ending a period of sitting as an independent following his departure from Reform UK last summer.
Advance UK confirmed that it has jointly agreed with Cllr Watt that he will now sit on Cambridgeshire County Council as an Advance UK councillor, giving the party a presence on the authority as it continues to build support at local government level.
Cllr Watt represents the Yaxley and Farcet division, which he won at the county elections in May last year. After his election, he initially sat as a Reform UK councillor and was appointed party whip.
However, on August 1 he changed his status at Shire Hall to “non-aligned independent”, a move first reported by CambsNews in October 2025.
At the time, the decision reduced Reform UK’s number of county councillors to nine and meant the Conservatives, with ten councillors, became the largest opposition group to the Liberal Democrat-led administration.
No public explanation was offered then, though Cllr Watt continued to serve both as a county councillor and as a parish councillor in Yaxley and Farcet.
Advance UK says his decision to join follows a period of reflection about the direction of British politics and the role of local representatives.
The party, founded on the principle that elected officials should be accountable first and foremost to their communities, argues that too much power has become concentrated in central party structures, often at the expense of local judgment and experience.
In a statement announcing the move, Advance UK said it was committed to restoring “principle, integrity and democratic accountability” to politics, rejecting what it describes as personality-driven leadership and top-down control.
The party says it aims to give councillors the freedom to speak honestly, act responsibly and represent their constituents without interference from national party machines.
Explaining his decision, Cllr Watt said: “I entered politics to serve my community honestly and responsibly. Over time, it became clear to me that British politics needs a party that values principle over personality, experience over control, and integrity over convenience.
“Advance UK offers exactly that. It is grounded in clear values and serious about restoring trust between voters and those who represent them.”
Advance UK leader Ben Habib welcomed Cllr Watt to the party, describing him as “the kind of public servant Britain needs more of”.
He added: “Des understands that politics is not about personal power or centralised control, but about duty, accountability and respect for the democratic process.”
Cllr Watt has deep roots in Yaxley, having lived in the village since 1968. He ran a business locally from 1992 until retiring in 2021 and has been involved in a range of community initiatives, including work on footpaths and environmental projects with local volunteer groups.
He previously served as a district councillor and was co-opted onto Yaxley Parish Council at the beginning of last year.
Advance UK says it believes experienced councillors play a vital role in public life and that sound judgment, earned over time, should be valued rather than overridden.
The party says Cllr Watt’s move reflects a wider appetite among both elected representatives and voters for a new political force focused on local democracy, seriousness in public life and the national interest.
