Laura Anne Jones MS has joined Reform UK – the popular conservative-leaning alternative.
She’s its first Senedd member.
Reform UK has made inroads in Wales over the last year. It aims to surpass the Conservatives.
Conservative Politics
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Badenoch says Policy Renewal will change the game
Today Kemi Badenoch launched a revised version of Renewal 2030, her flagship leadership campaign platform utilised last year, to boost her profile into the Conservative mainstream.
Her style is more political morals than policy, as so far she prefers changing a narrative with her Policy Renewal Programme to backing funding digits. However, longevity is the question.
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Tories voting problem
The Conservatives have made some progress because of the PR mishaps of the present Labour government. Kemi Badenoch MP (North West Essex/Conservatives), its new leader, has shaped a hard campaign against its farm tax.
The overriding allegations of sleaze, corruption, and mismanagement have also not gone away, and prove useful to her.
However, her main problem is a stubborn one. The party lost a significant vote share to Reform UK, who got 14.8% of it back in July. It shut the door on government for the Tories to some extent, and it’s not likely to get it back.
Badenoch has to win over her voters to compensate for the loss, and find some more to fill the gap.
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Any dream will do for conservatives?
In the ensuing months of the leadership of Kemi Badenoch MP (North West Essex/Conservatives), and the ongoing work of Reform UK, it’s worth asking where conservatism will go next.
The blogging warriors will ask if any of their ideas, or the views of supporters, matter anymore. It’s also worth remembering backbenchers who always know what’s needed in a crisis.
The work ahead is tough for the two parties, in part because Labour have such a clear agenda. They know it’s about public services, pay, and social justice at home, and overseas. It’s an easy job.
The Conservatives and Reformer’s among us, however, are not sure how to tackle the real issues out of power. An obvious example is the Channel crossings, being powerless to stop it.
The place of the official opposition of His majesty, and fourth largest party, are not good starting points. Meanwhile, it’s a blessing the Prime Minister is hard at work smashing the gangs.
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Reform UK is not fascist
The emergence of Reform UK is a progressive alliance of conservative voices, and values. It hasn’t come about by chance. Its key figures are important people in UK politics. They have media legitimacy, cultural primacy, and a central role in democracy itself.
The trouble is people in the media disagree. They write off Nigel Farage MP as far-right, and even something like a fascist. It isn’t true, of course, but they peddle such lies anyway. It sells copy, it boosts subscriptions, and helps promotionally because it’s outspoken.
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How Tory voters see Reform UK
In many respects the views of Tory voters are key to the success of Reform UK because they are its natural bedfellows.
In fact, much of what Reform UK says and does borrows heavily from a form of conservative politics it sees as lacking in mainstream conservatism in the UK.
According to data compiled by YouGov, it appears Tory voters are divided on where things stand for Reform UK but are more hopeful for its future.
In brief, more Conservative voters have an unfavourable view of Reform UK than favourable, but the margin is slight. A difference of 6% separates them between polar opposites.
Alternatively on the question of influence so far in UK politics, 5% separates those Conservative voters who say they have not much or none and those that say a lot or a little.
In terms of next steps, more conservative voters want Reform UK to have influence in future than don’t. The margin between is 11%, and a further 19% sit on the fence.
It’s not a bad outcome for a relatively new party that’s only just made headwind in Parliament with its first big electoral win.
The case is growing in the longterm.
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Reform UK head for Birmingham
On Friday Reform UK begin their annual conference in Birmingham for members and supporters of the party as well as assembled press. The lineup of speakers covers every base the party has right now.
On Friday James McMurdock MP (South Basildon and East Thurrock/Reform UK) kicks things off, followed by conservative heavyweight Anne Widdecombe. Next, ex-military Ant Middleton speaks followed by the rest of the party’s MP’s, and Chairman.
The next day is given over to further speakers and discussions about the party structure across the country. It’s the first chance ordinary members will have to share their views on what it will look like in years to come.
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Lowe attacks Tories
Rupert Lowe MP (Great Yarmouth/Reform UK) has given his maiden speech in the House of Commons today. He took a swing at the Conservative’s record on immigration.
“Uncontrolled mass immigration has failed Great Yarmouth, as it has failed the entire country. Just like the majority of the rest of the country, in 2010 they voted for lower immigration. In 2015, they voted for lower immigration. In 2016, they voted for lower immigration. In 2019, they voted for lower immigration. What did the Conservatives do? They allowed immigration to soar, with no thought to the brutal consequences.”
He also said employees are struggling in the “real” economy because of socialism. He quoted Margaret Thatcher by saying he backs “workers, not the shirkers”.