Two more Tory councillors jump ship to Reform UK
Richard Evans – Local democracy reporter
Two Conwy councillors have defected to Reform UK from the Conservatives.
Llandudno councillors Louise Emery and Tom Montgomery said they were frustrated by the way the country has “stagnated” and want to “stand up for Britain” after announcing the move.
In a statement issued to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, both councillors raised their frustration with how the country is being run.
On their way out of the Conservative party, both thanked former colleagues, with Cllr Emery criticising the former Tory UK Government as “not good enough”.
‘Enthusiastically’
Cllr Emery said: “I have resigned from the Conservative Party and joined Reform UK. I have not taken this decision lightly.
“For the past eight years, I have worked tirelessly for the residents of the Gogarth Mostyn ward and the town of Llandudno; I am enthusiastic, and more than ever driven to deliver for residents and businesses.
“But I am so frustrated at how our country is stagnating and declining. We need a shake up; we need a government that listens to its people and is prepared to stand up for Britain – its history, its place in the world, its future.
“I am tired of defending the legacy of the Conservative Government – they weren’t good enough. I am horrified at the first year of Labour Government.
“There is only one party that can deliver the change we so desperately need and that is Reform UK.”
Switch
She added: “Reform have a manifesto of common-sense policies which are the only way to set this country back on course and ensure that both local and national government work as they should – for the taxpayer.”
The Gogarth Mostyn ward councillor listed supporting the high streets and hospitality by abolishing business rates for small businesses and abandoning the tourism tax as some of the reasons for her switch.
Cllr Emery also cited other “common sense” Reform policies playing a part in her move.
These included social care reforms, a new curriculum, reviews of council spending, work incentives, an “incentivised benefits” system, and controls on migration, including “stopping illegal crossings”.
She added: “The Conwy Conservative Group on the council are good people who work hard for their residents, and we have been a formidable opposition.
“I want to thank them for all the support they have given me over the years.
“But this is an exciting and new chapter for me, to represent my residents and be part of Reform UK that will deliver change at local government level, in the Senedd and in Westminster.”
Tudno councillor Tom Montgomery added: “I have resigned as a Member of the Conservative Party. This is not a decision that I have taken lightly.
“In truth I have been frustrated and felt let down by the Conservative Party for a few years now. The failed promises, the higher taxes, the scandals.
“The party, in my opinion, is lost and doesn’t know what it stands for anymore and so doesn’t have a vision or a plan for delivering.
“Now don’t get me wrong, there are still some amazing people in the Conservative Party, honest, hardworking, and dedicated public servants that I sincerely wish all the best and hope to keep working with in the future.
“I also want to personally thank them for their friendship during the last few years. However, if there was a General Election tomorrow, I wouldn’t vote for the Conservatives.”
Change
He added: “So, if I can’t even convince myself that the Tories can deliver the change we need then how can I continue to represent them?
“I want to see change in our country, and I truly believe that both Labour and Conservatives have failed to deliver that. It is time for something new. I will be joining Reform UK.”
Cllr Montgomery then listed tax cuts, the “broken immigration system”, cutting government waste, addressing the social care funding crisis, and cutting energy taxes as some of his reasons.
He added: “I will continue to serve as a councillor for Tudno ward. This change will not stop me continuing to fight for my ward, town, and community.
“I will continue standing up for what I believe is right.
“I will continue to represent your interests and fight for what matters to you, our community and our town! If any resident wishes to discuss this with me, then please contact me via email, messenger, or keep an eye out for my next surgery!”
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Reform UK argue how they don’t have a manifesto but a contract with the people. If so. These former Conservative councillors have already broken theirs with the electorate. After all, they were elected as Conservatives. But would you trust them after this? I wouldn’t if a voter in Conwy. A gust of wind and they likely jump ship again, probably to the Raving Loony Party.
Their judgement is so impaired and blinkered if they feel any of reform policies are good or sensible. I think his last but one statement regarding his doing is what is right tells everything about him, far right.
“stand up for Britain”?
Don’t like them forriners coming here and taking our jerbs…..
Listen you dopey pair, we are in this state because your owner foisted brexit on the UK. Get that in your skulls. You have been sold a dud. You wont be working for your area, you will do what Nige says because that is the organisation you have been tricked into. And at the moment he wants a riot or two. Nige doesn’t stand for decency, he stands for hate and division.
The term ‘Common sense’ has been falsely invoked here and I’m throwing in ‘woeful judgement’. Reformees vote Farij. If he is deposed, they’re finished. Lowe is not done with him yet and the Musk take down statement hovers over him still. Hate is in the process of eating itself and it will continue on this path to self destruction. I wish all new Reform joiners well in achieving their desired aim.
Ysgwn i oes yna air o’r hen iaith Frytanaidd ar eu gwefusau? Cofier fod Llandudno yn gymuned uniaith Gymraeg i bob pwrpas ganrif a hanner yn ôl. Yna fe ddaeth y gwladychwyr a thaflu’r brodorion oddi ar y tir a thynnu eu tai i lawr i godi gwestai crand. Nac anghofier hynny. Mae hen dref Tudno Sant wedi hen fynd rhwng y cŵn a’r brain.Y lle yn llawn gwladychwyr a charidyms.
Cllr Louise Emery tells us “I am tired of defending the legacy of the Conservative Government.” but until 2022 she was cabinet member for Social Care, which is devolved in Wales and headed by a Labour Government. Perhaps she thinks Llandudno is in England?
Good riddance, let’s hope their downwards slide continues.
How many elected Cons are left in Wales now? Must be single figures.
Let this pair of nonentities sink back to oblivion, where they belong. They were an irrelevance in the Tory Party and now they’re an irrelevance in Reform UK.
Political opportunist jumping on the English Nationalist Bandwagon
Rats leaving a sinking ship only to find their new ship has even bigger holes. The further right you go the harder you will eventually sink.
Reform UK is a Private Limited Company (No. 11694875) masquerading as a political party. Its Leader, Nigel Farage, formed UKIP in 1993, left it and formed the Brexit Party in 2018 that mutated to Reform UK in 2021. What party will he form next, one wonders? Reform UK is, of course, an ultra right-wing English Nationalist Party with a profound colonialist attitude towards Wales. It is, therefore, a major threat to the existence of the Senedd and to Welsh national identity should it ever get near to gaining power in Cardiff or Westminster. Its statements are invariably untruths, nonsense or… Read more »