Conservative Councillors Defect To Reform UK

Several Tories have recently switched to Reform.

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Reform Defections

Stuart Mitchell/@IncMonocle

Can Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives stop the rise in support for Richard Tice’s Reform UK?

We saw Reform’s support rise fairly rapidly towards the end of 2022. And the start of 2023 seems to indicate that Reform intend on maintaining momentum this year.

There has been much Westminster speculation as to whether Brexiteer Tory MPs could defect to Reform.

But there have been several local Conservative defections already. Three Councillors have now joined Reform.

First there was Councillor David White in Barnsley who made the switch:

"In my view, the debacle of the last few months within the Conservative Party was excruciating at best, amateur at worst.

“The Conservative Party has changed, with them being unable or unwilling to make the big decisions. I am convinced that they are not in tune with the working people here in Barnsley and across the UK.”

Telegraph Politics @TelePolitics

🔵 A senior member of the voluntary Conservative party has defected to the Right-wing fringe party Reform UK, amid signs of frustration with the direction of Rishi Sunak's leadership telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/…

telegraph.co.ukConservative jumps ship to Reform UK as talks over more defections continue with MPsCllr David White says Tory party ‘has changed, with them being unable or unwilling to make the big decisions’

That was recently followed up by Sunderland Conservative Councillor Paul Donaghy defecting earlier this month.

And the third defection has seen a Lichfield Tory Councillor, Barry Gwilt, going over to Reform as well.

Lichfield Live® @LichfieldLive

Lichfield councillor switches from Conservatives to Reform UK

buff.lyLichfield councillor switches from Conservatives to Reform UK - Lichfield Live®A Lichfield councillor has switched allegiances and will now represent a new party.

I’ve also been told that there could well be more Conservative defections to come. Watch this space.

As for whether Sunak’s Tories can stop this trickle from turning into a flood of Tory to Reform switchers?

Well a key challenge for the Government is to stop the illegal migrant boats from France. But despite much tough talk, Sunday saw a massive 442 people cross on 10 boats in a single day.

Simon Jones @SimonJonesNews

442 migrants in 10 boats reached the UK yesterday - the highest daily figure this year. A further 53 migrants in a single boat were returned to France after they got into difficulty in the Channel.

If the Tories don’t get a grip quickly they face a thrashing at the next election. And probably a wave of defections to Reform UK.