The Isle of Wight Council’s short-lived ABC group has disbanded following Reform UK’s recent by-election win.
Central Rural representative, Reform UK’s Caroline Gladwin, and independent Nettlestone and Seaview councillor Dave Adams (pictured above) had previously announced they had united to form a new group, called ABC.
The ABC group is now no more however.
A storm of controversy
The pair were caught in a storm of controversy with Independent Socialist councillor Geoff Brodie at the beginning of this month, when Councillor Brodie raised concerns over Councillor Gladwin’s register of interests and was accused in return of bullying and harassment.
Councillor Brodie Councillor Councillor Adams a “fascist pig” and accused him of “making threats across the room” at a meeting on Hampshire and Solent devolution.
Commenting in September on the ABC group, Councillor Gladwin said,
“Committee seats are allocated to groups and Councillor Adams and I thought it was important to form a group to access the appropriate seats to best represent our residents and our wards.”
New Reform UK group
She now says the split and formation of a new Reform UK group is the “natural step to take” after Reform retained the Lake North Isle of Wight Council seat following a by-election on 2nd October 2025.
New Lake North councillor Bill Nigh is the other member of County Hall’s Reform UK group, and has said his party is looking to “take control” of the council after the Isle of Wight Council elections next May.
Councillor Adams has not responded to a request for comment about the ABC group.
Article edit
9.50am 28th Oct 2025 – Headline updated
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
