<\/p>\n
Veteran Tory Keith Prince defects to Reform UK on the eve of the Conservative conference, while the party\u2019s proposal to withdraw from the ECHR sparks internal turmoil and political debate ahead of the next election.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Conservative Party has been dealt another blow with the defection of veteran London Assembly member Keith Prince to Nigel Farage\u2019s 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 \u201cdone and dusted\u201d and no longer an effective opposition to the Labour government.<\/p>\n
Prince expressed enthusiasm about joining Reform UK, citing its \u201ccharismatic leader and a vision for a better Britain.\u201d Nigel Farage hailed the move as \u201can important moment for the party\u201d and a sign of Reform UK\u2019s growing momentum, particularly ahead of next May\u2019s London local elections. The rise in defections and Reform UK\u2019s increasing visibility add to the challenges facing Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, particularly as the Tories have been slipping in the polls while Farage\u2019s party gains traction, with some surveys even suggesting Farage as a favourite to become prime minister.<\/p>\n
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 \u201ccowardly\u201d attempt to dismantle the country\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp sought to distinguish the Conservative plan from Reform UK\u2019s approach, emphasising it as a carefully crafted legal strategy developed over months to respect international agreements while regaining control over Britain\u2019s borders. He dismissed Reform UK\u2019s messaging as simplistic slogans lacking detailed planning, pointing to previous missteps such as Farage\u2019s failed announcement on the status of EU citizens.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s 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\u2019s insurgent challenge.<\/p>\n