Tories are still biggest party on the right, claims Cleverly

"Shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly argued that the Conservatives are still the biggest party on the right of British politics despite Reform making huge gains at their expense in Thursday's elections. He claimed Reform were not a centre right party but, rather, a "cult of personality", adding: "Nigel [Farage] is not a policy, being angry at stuff is not a policy." By contrast, the Tories backed "reducing taxes, protecting borders, funding the armed forces and making sure we liberate businesses," he told the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg."

"Reform's deputy leader Richard Tice told the same programme that his party's electoral success represented a "seismic earthquake in British politics". On Thursday, Reform picked up more than 1,450 council seats and gained control of 14 councils, both from the Conservatives - for example in Suffolk and Essex - but also in traditional Labour areas such as Sunderland and Barnsley. It also came second in the Welsh Parliament elections and joint second with Labour in Scotland."

"Speaking on Friday, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said there had been "historic vote shifts" adding: "The old ideas of left and right have literally been blown apart in the last 24 hours." Tice said his party had faced "more scrutiny than anybody else before," adding: "But isn't it interesting that 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.""

"Support for the Conservatives in England fell by 11 points compared to 2022, when this round of local elections was last held. The party lost more than half of the seats it was defending and fared particularly badly in areas where the Reform vote was highest. It did make some gains, winning back its traditional strongholds in the London seats of Westminster and Wandsworth, which had been taken by Labour in previous elections."

Conservatives were described as still the largest party on the right despite major losses to Reform in local elections. Sir James Cleverly said Reform is not centre right, characterizing it as a personality-driven movement rather than a policy platform. He contrasted Conservative priorities including reducing taxes, protecting borders, funding the armed forces, and supporting business. Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice called the results a seismic shift, noting voters wanted more Reform despite intense scrutiny and attacks. Reform gained over 1,450 council seats and took control of 14 councils, including areas previously held by Conservatives and some traditional Labour areas. Nigel Farage said left-right ideas have been blown apart, while Conservative support in England fell sharply and the party lost more than half of seats it defended.

Read at www.bbc.com