Cleverly Dismisses Reform UK as 'Cult of Personality' Despite Conservative Local Election Losses
Shadow Housing Secretary Sir James Cleverly has stated that the Conservative Party maintains its position as the largest force on the right of British politics, despite significant gains made by Reform UK in Thursday's elections.
Cleverly dismissed Reform UK as a 'cult of personality', asserting that 'Nigel [Farage] is not a policy, being angry at stuff is not a policy'. He maintained that the Conservatives advocate for 'reducing taxes, protecting borders, funding the armed forces and making sure we liberate businesses'.
Reform UK's deputy leader, Richard Tice, characterised his party's electoral performance as a 'seismic earthquake in British politics'. Reform secured over 1,450 council seats and gained control of 14 councils, taking seats from both Conservative strongholds in Suffolk and Essex, and Labour areas such as Sunderland and Barnsley.
The party also achieved second place in the Welsh Parliament elections and tied with Labour for second in Scotland. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage commented on 'historic vote shifts', suggesting 'The old ideas of left and right have literally been blown apart in the last 24 hours'.
Conservative support in England declined by 11 points compared to the 2022 local elections, losing over half of its defended seats, particularly where Reform's vote share was highest. However, the party did regain traditional strongholds in Westminster and Wandsworth, London.
Sir James, who contested the 2024 Tory leadership, acknowledged that 'All of us, Kemi [Badenoch] included, would like to see progress happen faster, but remember, we're less than two years from a really significant electoral defeat'. He expressed confidence that the party would gain seats in next year's elections, attracting support from both former and new Conservative voters.
He further criticised other parties, including Reform, for 'doing this pick and mix of populist policies', noting Reform's lack of clarity on welfare and defence. Cleverly predicted that Reform and the Greens would 'let the voters down' where elected.
The Green Party of England and Wales also made notable gains, securing control in London, Norwich, and Hastings. Green Party leader Zack Polanski declared two-party politics 'dead and buried', framing the new political landscape as 'the Green Party versus Reform'.
