Labour is now Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s largest group after Conservative councillor James Bensly switched to Great Yarmouth First there.
Labour has become the largest group on Great Yarmouth Borough Council after Conservative councillor James Bensly switched parties.
Mr Bensly, who represents East Flegg ward, has joined Great Yarmouth First, which is linked with Great Yarmouth MP Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain.
The move leaves Labour with 18 councillors and the Conservatives with 17.
Great Yarmouth First now has two councillors, alongside two independents, meaning no party holds the 20 seats needed for an overall majority.
The Conservatives remain in charge of the council as a minority administration.
Mr Bensly has been a prominent figure in local politics for several years and previously served in senior Conservative roles at both borough and county council level.
Explaining his decision, he said he believed fundamental changes were needed in the way the country is governed, while adding that his priorities for the communities he represents remained unchanged.
Great Yarmouth First was established by MP Rupert Lowe and is linked with his national Restore Britain party.
Great Yarmouth Borough Council has been under no overall control since 2023.
The change means Labour is now the single largest group but does not give it control of the authority.

Driver Jailed For Fatal Great Yarmouth Seafront Crash
Parents Raise Concerns Over Chapelfield Play Equipment
Hundreds Take Part In Marriott’s Way 10K
Lavender View Independent Living Scheme Opens
Tributes Paid To Norwich City’s Michael Wynn Jones
Family Pay Tribute After Tania Williams Murder Sentence
Possible Unexploded Ordnance Disappears At Caister Beach
Historic Watton Clock Set To Chime Again
Hospital Order For Man Who Killed Norwich Landlord
Activists Guilty Of Stealing Sandringham Lambs
Vehicles Seized During Norwich Driving Operation
Norwich Man Charged With Six Shop Thefts
Seven Options Considered To Tackle Anti-Social Driving
Rescued Norfolk Seal Fighting For Survival
Breckland Considers Tighter Rules For Shared Homes
Norwich Cultural Groups Offered Grants Up To £7,500
Animal Rights Activists On Trial Over Sandringham Lambs
Repairs Approved For Fire-Damaged Norwich Pub
Tributes Paid After Death At Council Meeting
Hopton Housing Development Put On Hold

