'Pop-up' Reform won't hold Labour to account - Tory chief reacts to Wolverhampton election results

The former leader of the opposition in Wolverhampton Council, councillor Simon Bennett, has cast doubts over Reform’s ability to hold Labour to account in office following their success in this year’s local elections.

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The Bushbury North representative was not up for re-election this year but attended the count at Aldersley Leisure Village in support of his fellow party members on what proved to be a difficult but manageable day for the Tories, with councillor Bennett’s ward colleague Andrew McNeil losing his seat to Reform’s Susan Lawrence.

Prior to the count councillor Bennett told the Express and Star the ‘most important thing’ for the Tories would be retaining their place as the opposition party, insisting a ‘pop-up party’ like Reform would not be able to hold Labour to account.

“I think the most important thing today was maintaining group size and staying in opposition, which we haven’t managed to do” Mr Bennett said. “Wolverhampton has been Labour-controlled for over 50 years and we’ve always held them to account in opposition, and I don’t think we’ll get the same from a pop-up party like Reform because of the pure lack of experience.

“We will continue to do what we’ve always done - we’ll hold Labour to account, and these results now provide us with the opportunity to hold Reform to account as well. If they’re not up to their work, if they’re not cut out for the job we’ll be there to make sure we’re doing the job.

“I give (Reform) 12 months. We’ve already seen it across the country, whether they’re in power or in opposition, where councillors have been suspended or resigning, and I’m sure we’ll see that over the next 12 months.”

Despite the net-loss in Wolverhampton councillor Bennett insisted there are things to be positive about for the Tories, and backs the party to make gains next year.

“This year has been a big test for us, and it’s been the county’s first chance since 2024 to give us a kicking, and give Labour a kicking as well for their mistakes over the last 18 months,” he said. “We’ll rebuild, I think Labour will struggle for the next 12 months and we’ll see what Reform do, but I doubt they’ll have the same springboard next year because a lot of the conversations I’ve had out on the doorsteps with people are about this being a protest vote for Reform.

“They want to come back to vote Conservative next year, and while it’s difficult today to accept that we’ll hopefully look back in 12 months time and those voters will have come back to us.

“Broadly speaking this isn’t the worst situation that we’ve been in, and we’re the most successful party in British history, we’re the oldest party in the world. That’s how resilient we are, and we will be back.”