A significant wave of political discontent swept across the Conservative Party ahead of its annual conference in Manchester, as more than 20 local councillors announced their immediate defection to Reform UK. Eight Tory councillors had previously moved to Nigel Farage’s party since March this year, adding to the seven that defected las year.
This mass departure highlights the widening schism on the political right and represents a substantial blow to the Conservative leadership.
With a flock of defections of Conservative councillors to Reform UK this morning, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch(pictured) has been on the air waves defending her record since ascension.
She told ITV: “Just last year, we had MPs jumping to Labour because Labour was doing well in the polls. They’re not doing so well now.
“There are some people who will leave because all they want to do is win elections. They don’t know what they’re winning the elections for.
“We are making it very clear what we are doing this for. It is for the people of the United Kingdom. We want to give them a stronger economy. We want to give them stronger borders.”
Also speaking to LBC, she said: “What we are doing is shedding a lot of the baggage of the last 14 years.”
Badenoch added: “We need people who are in our party for the right reasons.”
Badenoch was not forgiving in her answer. Pic: PA
The dramatic timing, coinciding with the gathering of party loyalists, underscored the internal fragility of the government and the growing electoral threat posed by the hard-right challenger party. Political analysts view this as an attempt by Reform UK to maximize media attention during a high-profile Conservative event.
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The scale of the exodus—over twelve elected representatives shifting allegiance—signals deep ideological disillusionment at the local government level. These councillors, operating on the frontline of public service, voiced profound frustration with the ruling party’s direction and policy compromises. Specifically, the shadow chancellor, Mel Stride, used his conference platform to frame the Conservatives as the only fiscally responsible choice, directly attacking Reform UK for allegedly being a “party of more spending and more debt.”
Consequently, the stark difference in vision over economic strategy and tax policy has driven many long-serving local politicians away. The decision by these Tory councillors defecting to Reform suggests that Stride’s rhetoric failed to reassure those who believe the party has abandoned core conservative principles.
Many defectors reportedly believe the Conservatives have moved too far towards the centre ground, particularly on issues of taxation, public spending, and green policies. They view Reform UK as a more authentic voice for small-state, low-tax conservatism. Furthermore, this exodus creates immediate governance challenges in the local authorities where the defections occurred, shifting political balances overnight.
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The immediate impact of these Tory councillors defecting to Reform is a signal that the rebellion against the party leadership is intensifying beyond Westminster, infiltrating established local power bases. Clearly, the internal party divisions are providing political momentum for Reform UK.
This concentrated shift of loyalty, occurring on the eve of a major party gathering, effectively weaponised the Conservatives’ internal turmoil. The defectors’ move bolsters Reform UK’s efforts to position itself as the principal home for disaffected former Conservative voters.
Strategists for the governing party are increasingly worried about this fragmentation of the right-wing vote, which directly benefits the opposition Labour Party.
Senior Conservative figures like Robert Jenrick have publicly downplayed the prospect of any pact with Reform, insisting the party’s priority must be internal change. They argue that winning back lost voters is crucial, rather than negotiating electoral alliances.
However, the continued defection of elected officials suggests that many do not believe the necessary internal change is forthcoming. The highly publicised nature of this announcement demonstrates the political effectiveness of Reform UK’s strategy to undermine the Conservatives during a key conference. The actions of these
Tory councillors defecting to Reform reinforce the perception that the Conservative Party is unable to unite its own support base, a critical weakness as a general election looms.
The Conservatives must urgently address the ideological drift driving these departures to prevent further electoral hemorrhaging. For an official breakdown of political party representation across the UK, see the latest figures published by the House of Commons Library.
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