A senior Tory MP has set out how the Conservative Party could look to halt Nigel Farage’s crusade for power by winning back ex-voters from Reform UK.
Laura Trott, who was returned as the MP for Sevenoaks with a reduced majority of just 5,440, appeared at a More in Common fringe event today to discuss the Conservative Party’s path back to Downing Street in 2029.
Speaking at the event, the Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury stressed competence could help deliver a boost to the Tories while taking the wind out of Reform UK’s sails.
When asked by GB News about what the Tories should look to do to thwart Farage, Trott said: “There are people who are just fed up with all of us and we need to show that we have the ability to reconnect, to be sensible, to speak to the concerns of everyday voters in a way that they understand.
Senior Tory sets out plan to halt Farage’s crusade by winning back Reform UK votersPA
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“Show that we care about their lives, about their kids, about their jobs, about their car, about getting a doctor’s appointment, about their kids going to a decent school, about growing up in an area that they understand.
“That is absolutely vital and I think if we do that correctly then we will win back Reform voters without having to focus on it.”
Trott even gave an anecdote about a local constituent telling her why they were siding with Reform UK.
She added: “A lot of those, when you knocked at the door, said ‘I’ll vote for you next time but seriously you guys need to sort yourselves out’.
Trott’s 20,818-vote 2019 majority was cut to just 5,440 on July 4 after the Liberal Democrats received a 2,000-ballot boost to take them to 12,888.
However, Reform UK also ended up putting in a strong performance from a standing start, obtaining 9,341 votes in the Kent constituency to put them above Labour in third-place.
Matt Warman speaking at today’s More in Common event
GB NEWS
Former Boston & Skegness MP Matt Warman also shared his thoughts on how the Tories can combat Reform UK.
Warman, who lost the Lincolnshire seat to Reform UK’s deputy leader Richard Tice, said: “The way we recapture the Reform voter is to start credibly delivering an optimistic picture.”
He added: “Reform are really good at identifying all the problems that we have, [but] they don’t have any solutions.
“It’s easy to say that they don’t have any solutions but now they’re in Parliament in greater numbers, the pressure is on them to demonstrate that they have got things that they can implement.”
Despite Trott and Warman appearing optimistic about the fight to reclaim the right, ConservativeHome founder Tim Montgomerie was far less convinced.
Montgomerie, who is backing Tom Tugendhat to succeed Rishi Sunak, suggested the next Leader of the Opposition might need to revisit an arrangement with Reform UK ahead of the 2029 General Election.
Laura Trott sat with Michael Gove at today’s More in Common event
GB NEWS
All four leadership contenders have so far ruled out a working relationship with Farage.
However, in a warning, Montgomerie said: “There’s all sorts of things we can do and hope they blow up in the meantime.
“We’ve got to be that serious party and hope in the meantime that they combust.
“It’s perfectly possible that they don’t and there may come a time, a year, 18-months out from the next election where we’ve got to make some very serious decisions about what kind of relationship we want to have with Reform.”
It does not appear Farage and his allies at Reform UK plan to go away any time soon.
In a letter seen by GB News, the populist party’s chairman Zia Yusuf today sent supporters an upbeat message about the future of Reform UK.
He wrote: “Reform has all the momentum in British politics. The fact that Keir Starmer’s support has collapsed so quickly is no surprise.
Nigel FarageGETTY“This great country deserves real change. It deserves secure borders, a freeze on migration, safe streets, an NHS that works.
“Most of all, it deserves a leader that puts British people first. A Prime Minister Nigel Farage will deliver that. Thanks to patriots like you, that day is coming.”
More in Common’s UK director Luke Tryl set out a detailed path for the Tory Party to build a coalition of voters to win the next general election.
He suggested that the next Conservative leader should look to attract Labour and Liberal Democrat switchers before turning attention to Reform UK.
Tryl argued that it could make the Tories’ task of winning over Reform UK voters easier if it becomes clear that Labour could be booted out of power.
He said: “If you look at the data, they [Reform UK voters] are among the hardest to get back.
“They are the most likely to say that they will never vote for the Conservatives again and the least likely to say that they will come back in the course of the Parliament, about half as likely as Liberal Democrat or Labour switchers.”
Tryl added: “Step one is you get the loyal Conservative voters back, step two is you get Labour and Liberal Democrat switchers.
“The really interesting thing is if you look at those people who voted Lib Dem this time, who had previously voted Conservative, they actually look pretty similar to Conservative voters … Then step three is Reform UK voters.”
Tryl explained how Reform UK voters adore Farage but equally loathe the Labour Party.
The situation sets up a scenario where the Tory Party could potentially squeeze Reform UK’s vote by reiterating it will help boot Sir Keir Starmer out of No10.