Conservatives Remain Largest Right-Wing Party Despite Reform Gains

Shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly has argued that the Conservatives remain the largest party on the right of British politics despite losses to Reform UK in local elections held on Thursday. Cleverly told the BBC that Reform UK is not a centre-right party but rather a cult of personality.

He added that being angry at issues does not constitute a policy. In contrast, he said the Conservatives support reducing taxes, protecting borders, funding the armed forces and liberating businesses. Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice, speaking on the same programme, said his party's performance represented a seismic earthquake in British politics.

Reform picked up more than 1,450 council seats and gained control of 14 councils, taking them from the Conservatives in areas including Suffolk and Essex as well as from Labour in places such as Sunderland and Barnsley.

UK came second in the Welsh Parliament elections and joint second with Labour in Scotland. Support for the Conservatives in England fell by 11 points compared with 2022. The party lost more than half of the seats it was defending and performed particularly poorly in areas with high Reform support.

The Conservatives did regain some traditional strongholds in the London boroughs of Westminster and Wandsworth, which had been held by Labour. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said on Friday that the results showed historic vote shifts and that the old ideas of left and right have been blown apart.

Tice said his party had faced more scrutiny than any other but that voters had responded by calling for more Reform. He added that despite attacks on the party leadership and candidates, the public had indicated they want more of its approach.

Cleverly, who lost the 2024 Conservative leadership contest, said all senior figures including the current leader would like faster progress. He noted that less than two years have passed since a significant electoral defeat and that no one expects an overnight recovery.

He said he had no doubt the party would gain seats in elections next year. Cleverly stated he was confident of accelerating support both from previous Conservative voters and from those considering alternatives. He accused other parties including Reform of offering a pick and mix of populist policies.

Cleverly said Reform does not know where it stands on cutting the welfare bill and does not have a defence spokesperson. He added that where Reform and the Greens have been elected they have let voters down and those voters begin to reject them. The Green Party of England and Wales made gains and took control of seats in London, Norwich and Hastings.

Its leader said two-party politics was dead and buried and that the new politics is the Green Party versus Reform.