A London councillor has defected to Reform UK from the Conservatives claiming her former party had let the country down on issues like women’s rights and its net zero policy.
Westminster City councillor Laila Cunningham said Reform UK was the only party that could “provide leadership to save Britain”, her resignation letter posted on X said.
She wrote: “Like others who have supported the party for many years, I feel that it’s not so much a case of me leaving the party, but that the party has left me.
“The Conservative Party used to be a party that stood for sound public finances, low tax, controlled immigration, and law and order.
“On these, and almost every other big issue facing Britain – including women’s rights, net zero, and DEI – the Conservative Party has let the country down.”
The Lancaster Gate ward councillor told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) she had considered defecting “for a while” and ultimately became disillusioned with the former government for not launching a national inquiry into grooming gangs. She is now campaigning for more police in London and slammed the closure of Royal Parks police squad.
She said it became “harder and harder” to support the Tories on the doorstep. She said: “When I spoke to residents they’d ask me what the party stood for. They would say the Conservatives were rubbish and I would say they are completely right. Then they’d ask me what I stood for and I didn’t know how to respond.”
She said she found herself increasingly agreeing with Reform UK policies. She added: “The Conservatives will do anything to stay in power. People in Reform believe in something. They have purpose and it’s refreshing to speak with them.”
Councillor Paul Swaddle, Leader of the Westminster City Conservatives, said though it was disappointing to see a Tory councillor switch parties, Cllr Cunningham had become increasingly disengaged with the job.
He said she had begun to miss meetings, turned up late or failed to be over her brief. He claimed she has been sacked from her position on the Planning Committee and lost the trust of party figures when she withdrew her candidacy for the seat of Rotherham during last year’s General Election at the last minute.
He said the process of finding Cllr Cunningham’s replacement for next year’s local elections was under way. He said: “We now look forward to selecting three true Conservatives to fight – and win – in the ward and give local people the proper representation they deserve.”
Cllr Cunningham has denied the allegations and claims she was asked to step back from planning to make way for Labour-defector Cllr Paul Fisher.
The criminal lawyer and mum-of-seven said she had made it clear to party insiders she would quit her job as a criminal lawyer if she was placed in a safe seat.
Cllr Cunningham is the only Reform UK councillor on Westminster City Council. There are currently 25 Conservative councillors and 28 Labour councillors alongside her.
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