West Northamptonshire Council leader Mark Arnull has described claims he was interested in joining Labour before standing for Reform as “faintly ridiculous”.

Two former Labour councillors claimed Councillor Arnull attended party events and discussed his political ambitions before he went on to stand for Reform and become council leader following its victory in the May 2025 elections.

Councillor Arnull strongly rejected the suggestion, saying he had simply attended a public political event while he was a Conservative member. He accused Labour of attempting to turn “routine political engagement” into a scandal and said the claims reflected more on the party’s judgement than his own. He criticised Labour for “laying their election campaign plans out” at a public meeting.

The issue came to the fore after recent comments and claims on social media.

placeholder image — Councillor Mark Arnull

Former Labour group leader Wendy Randall told the Chronicle & Echo that Councillor Arnull met her twice in 2024 and attended an open morning where Labour discussed its plans.

She said: “He met with me twice, right before our selections and everything, and seemed really interested in joining the Labour Party.

“He'd come along to one of our open mornings, where we were sort of telling people our thoughts and what we'd do if we took control.”

Councillor Randall said he left before Labour made its candidate selections, but she was convinced he was “interested in standing for Labour”.

A second former Labour councillor has also told the Chron that Councillor Arnull attended a Labour future candidates day at a church near Sol Central in Northampton.

They claimed he stayed for the whole event, took part in workshops and discussed his political ambitions with councillors.

They said they later challenged Councillor Arnull about his attendance and he joked that he had been “undercover”.

In a statement issued to the Chronicle & Echo, Councillor Arnull strongly rejected the suggestion that his attendance demonstrated an intention to join Labour and said he was surprised the party outlined their “whole election strategy” in a public meeting.

He said: “The idea that attending a public political event years ago when a Conservative member constitutes a story is faintly ridiculous.

“Labour seems determined to turn routine political engagement into some great local scandal or mystery.”

Councillor Arnull instead criticised Labour for discussing its election strategy at an open event.

He added: “The real scandal was Wendy Randall laying their whole election campaign plan out at an open meeting, over a year before the election.

“Given how badly they misread the mood of the electorate, their continued delusion shouldn't really come as a surprise.”

Councillor Arnull said the claims said “far more about Labour's judgment” than they did about him, adding that the party “simply cannot accept” its rejection by West Northamptonshire voters.

Reform took control of West Northamptonshire Council in May 2025, with Councillor Arnull subsequently becoming leader of the authority.