The Conservative Party has been dealt another blow with the defection of veteran London Assembly member Keith Prince to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party. After nearly 50 years with the Tories, Prince, who represents Havering and Redbridge, switched allegiance on the eve of the Conservative conference in Manchester, marking a significant symbolic moment for Reform UK as it now holds an official group on the London Assembly. This follows the earlier departure of Tory MP Danny Kruger to Reform UK, who declared the Conservative Party was “done and dusted” and no longer an effective opposition to the Labour government.

Prince expressed enthusiasm about joining Reform UK, citing its “charismatic leader and a vision for a better Britain.” Nigel Farage hailed the move as “an important moment for the party” and a sign of Reform UK’s growing momentum, particularly ahead of next May’s London local elections. The rise in defections and Reform UK’s increasing visibility add to the challenges facing Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, particularly as the Tories have been slipping in the polls while Farage’s party gains traction, with some surveys even suggesting Farage as a favourite to become prime minister.

Amidst internal Conservative upheaval, the party has announced a controversial policy to withdraw the UK from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) if it wins the next general election. This initiative aims to curb immigration and tighten border controls, a response to what the Tories describe as "lawfare" tactics that use the ECHR to frustrate deportations. However, this proposal has drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups, who have labelled it a “cowardly” attempt to dismantle the country’s protections. The Labour Party has also criticised the policy, accusing Kemi Badenoch of yielding to pressure from Reform UK and pursuing a course fraught with diplomatic and political risks, particularly regarding agreements like the Good Friday Agreement.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp sought to distinguish the Conservative plan from Reform UK’s approach, emphasising it as a carefully crafted legal strategy developed over months to respect international agreements while regaining control over Britain’s borders. He dismissed Reform UK’s messaging as simplistic slogans lacking detailed planning, pointing to previous missteps such as Farage’s failed announcement on the status of EU citizens.

Labour, meanwhile, accused the Conservatives of internal division and portrayed itself as proactively tackling border issues with decisive measures against people-smuggling gangs and deportation of foreign criminals.

The recent defections and the contentious policy on the ECHR underscore a Conservative Party grappling with its identity and struggling to maintain unity amid the rise of Farage’s Reform UK, which has capitalised on frustrations within the traditional right. As the Manchester conference unfolds, the party faces mounting pressure to present a coherent vision capable of countering both the Labour government and Farage’s insurgent challenge.

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Source: Noah Wire Services