Reform 'could influence local elections', warns Conservative Party chairman during visit to Dudley

Tory Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake MP was in Stourbridge supporting candidates standing in local elections on May 7.

With Reform UK hoping to take Dudley council seats from all sides, Mr Hollinrake told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he is concerned about what might happen.

Mr Hollinrake said: “I’m concerned about it of course, it has got the potential to split the vote and that can do a number of things.

“Ultimately it is the easiest job in the world to stand on the sidelines and criticise saying ‘we could do a better job’.

“But when you are seeing the reality of Reform-led councils, that’s not what’s happening on the ground.”

Dudley is currently run by a minority Conservative administration but needs support from Liberal Democrats for victory in crunch votes like the budget.

After the election the Tories seem likely to still be the largest group in the council chamber but a strong showing from Reform UK would secure significant influence.

Mr Hollinrake said: “However many seats we get, and we hope to have a majority administration, we’re delivering services on the ground, that’s what we have got to do.

“Sometimes that means working with other parties, that is the reality of politics but that’s not our preference.

“We’d rather be able to run things purely on Conservative principles, so there is no compromise.”

Like every council, Dudley saw big cuts in funding from Westminster under Conservative governments since 2010 but Mr Hollinrake was keen to defend his party’s record on coping with the cost of the pandemic and other economic shocks.

He said: “You have got to cut your cloth, it’s difficult decisions you have got to make including how we fund councils.

“I don’t think it was a mistake, the reality is we’ve got to live within our means whether its national government or local government.”

Social care swallows a big slice of council spending on services and Mr Hollinrake was clear on what he expected from Tory councillors to reduce the bill.

He said: “All councils who have responsibility for adult social care are struggling with this.

“We know that it’s cheaper to deliver social care at home, that’s the big saving we can make.

“Get people out of hospitals or out of residential care into homes where possible, those are the best economies you can make in social care.

“Let’s face it, they would prefer to be cared for at home rather than in a third party establishment.”

The chairman was in the region to support Tory candidates Steve Hancock and Richard Prosser who are hoping to take two seats in the Wollaston and Stourbridge Town ward.

Local elections are often influenced by national politics and Mr Hollinrake admitted things had not always gone well when the Conservatives were in government.

He said: “People are really listening to us again, we did many good things in 14 years but we made some mistakes and so we need to go back to the drawing board.

“A new leader and she’s really cutting through but it takes a while to rebuild trust again.”