Shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly asserts that the Conservatives remain the largest party on the right of British politics, even as Reform UK secures major victories at their expense in recent local elections.
Reform UK’s Electoral Breakthrough
Reform UK claims over 1,450 council seats and takes control of 14 councils, including former Conservative strongholds in Suffolk and Essex, as well as traditional Labour areas like Sunderland and Barnsley. The party finishes second in the Welsh Parliament elections and ties for second with Labour in Scotland.
Reform deputy leader Richard Tice describes the results as a “seismic earthquake in British politics.” Party leader Nigel Farage highlights “historic vote shifts,” stating that “the old ideas of left and right have literally been blown apart in the last 24 hours.”
Tice notes intense scrutiny on the party but emphasizes voter support: “Despite all of the scrutiny and the attacks on Nigel, on me, on our candidates, on our councils, voters have said, we want more Reform please.”
Conservative Setbacks and Optimism
Conservative support in England drops 11 points from 2022 levels. The party loses more than half of the seats it defends, performing worst in areas with strong Reform turnout. However, Conservatives reclaim traditional London bastions in Westminster and Wandsworth from Labour.
Sir James Cleverly, who competed against Kemi Badenoch in the 2024 Tory leadership race, acknowledges the challenges: “All of us, Kemi included, would like to see progress happen faster, but remember, we’re less than two years from a really significant electoral defeat, and nobody is expecting that we turn that around overnight.”
He expresses confidence in recovery: “I have no doubt my party will gain seats at elections next year. I am absolutely confident we’ll see the acceleration of support coming to the Conservatives, coming back to us from previous Conservative voters, and coming to us for the first time from voters who are looking at the alternatives.”
Cleverly labels Reform a “cult of personality,” adding: “Nigel is not a policy, being angry at stuff is not a policy.” He contrasts this with Conservative priorities: reducing taxes, protecting borders, funding the armed forces, and liberating businesses. He criticizes Reform and others for a “pick and mix of populist policies,” pointing to their unclear stances on welfare cuts and lack of a defense spokesperson.
Cleverly predicts: “What we’ve seen with Reform, and we will see that again, and we’ll also see this with the Greens, is where they do get elected they let the voters down and those voters start rejecting them.”
Green Party Advances
The Green Party of England and Wales achieves significant gains, securing control in areas like London, Norwich, and Hastings. Leader Zack Polanski declares two-party politics “dead and buried,” asserting: “It’s very clear that the new politics is the Green Party versus Reform.”
