Tory insiders have accused Reform UK of “playing” games ahead of the local elections as the populist party continues to pose a major threat to Rishi Sunak.
Reform UK has the chance to demonstrate why it is consistently receiving double-digit support in the opinion polls on May 2 as polls open across England and Wales.
A number of local authorities could prove fruitful for Richard Tice, with 82 out of 107 voting to leave the European Union.
Despite a shift in the opinion polls, Reform UK has decided not to field candidates across large swathes of England.
Reform UK have been criticised ahead of the local elections
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Reform UK put up 323 candidates out of the 2,655 being contested, Election Maps UK has revealed.
The figure represents just 12 per cent of wards and falls well below the 1,646 candidates being put up by the Green Party.
Ukip previously elected 202 Councillors in 2015, just one year after returning 166 to the local level.
Tory sources have argued the decision shows the populist party is not serious about the upcoming general election and just wants to inflict maximum damage to the Conservatives’ core.
“It is not serious for Reform to say they are a national party if they are not contesting every ward in the council elections,” a Tory MP told GB News. “You are either all in and a serious machine, or just playing at it.”
A Tory source in Redditch, which is holding elections on May 2, also said: “Reform claim they want to change our country, but how can they do that when they clearly can’t be bothered to stand candidates in May’s local elections? Local councillors and councils have significant powers over issues which voters care about. To change things you need to get elected, but Reform clearly aren’t interested in that.
“In Redditch, they’ve failed to stand a single candidate. Twenty-seven Councillors are up for election and not a single Reform candidate. Don’t let Reform tell you they care about Redditch when they can’t be bothered to stand candidates.
“Reform also talk a big game when it comes to law and order, but again they’ve failed to find a candidate to stand to become the next Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia. Judge people by their actions, not by what they say and on this Reform are found wanting. They put political rhetoric above actually wanting to improve people’s lives.”
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Nigel Farage on the campaign trail with Ukip
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Another Tory insider added: “Well, given they have a parliamentary candidate here, you would have thought they would at least try to get some local council representation. Perhaps it shows they don't really care about delivering for places and their main aim is maximum Tory damage rather than actually wanting to represent people.”
However, Reform UK leader Richard Tice continues to set his sights on taking on the Tories at the general election.
Tice has consistently vowed to stand candidates in all 632 seats across England, Scotland and Wales.
He also promised not to stand aside for any Tory MPs, a decision his predecessor Nigel Farage made ahead of the 2019 General Election.
A senior Reform UK source separately confirmed the populist party’s limited capacity is limiting its ability to contest the upcoming local elections.
The insider told GB News: “We will do what we can but it certainly isn’t our focus.”
Reform UK will instead field a “glut” as the local elections remain a “secondary interest” to the populist party.
“We are fielding hundreds of candidates across the country alongside a number of Mayoral candidates,” a Reform UK spokesperson added.
“Reform UK’s priority is the upcoming General Election. As a new and emerging political force in the UK we are prioritising our resources to break through the first past the post system.”
Concerns about Reform UK’s ability to coordinate a ground campaign were expressed earlier this year, with ex-Ukip MEP Tik Aker telling GB News the populist party does not have an “established local Government base”.
Rishi Sunak is the current Prime Minister PAHe added: “You need a massive ground game but this comes back to the councillors.”
Reform UK is currently represented by just 10 Councillors, with many following defections.
However, the populist party’s electoral ambitions have hit the headlines recently as a spokesperson was forced to issue an apology for being unaware a candidate had died.
Tommy Cawkwell, a volunteer for the RNLI, died after being picked to represent the rebranded Brexit Party in York Central at the next general election.
Cawkwell was dropped alongside around 50 other candidates due to “inactivity”.
Reform UK said they were “mortified” for not knowing he had died.
The spokesperson said: “The simple fact is that we have removed upwards of 50 candidates for complete inactivity and I know those who had been removed for disciplinary measures. Mr Cawkwell was clearly not one of those.
“Sadly, I was unaware that he had died and I made an assumption based on the knowledge I possessed. I am mortified that my lack of care has caused his family pain, and I can only apologise profusely for my mistake. I do not know how to get hold of the family. If I did, I would apologise in person.”
A number of Reform UK candidates were dropped by the party after making several unsavoury comments on social media.
Some made racist remarks against London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf.
Others liked tweets by former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson and ex-British National Party leader Nick Griffin.
Former Conservative deputy chairman Lee Anderson (R) shakes hands with Leader of Reform UK party Richard Tice (L)
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Another candidate made a sexist remark about Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner.
However, the Tory Party have also found themselves in a disciplinary crisis after Reform UK MP Lee Anderson announced he would not campaign against four sitting Conservatives, including Nottinghamshire neighbour Brendan Clarke-Smith.
Don Valley MP Nick Fletcher, who was included as one of Anderson’s allies, responded on social media by urging Ashfield constituents to support its “greatest champion”.
The post sparked concern about discipline within Tory ranks amid speculation MPs could look to topple Sunak after the local elections.
A Reform UK spokesperson said: “Lee Anderson made it clear from the day he joined Reform UK that he would not personally campaign against a handful of his close friends. The party respect this decision and it shows Lee’s loyalty to his friends, which goes beyond politics. Reform will be standing in these constituencies and will be fighting the Conservatives across the board in England, Wales and Scotland. The Tories have betrayed the country by failing to control our borders and allowing our public services to crumble. We will punish them at the general election.”
A Tory spokesperson added: “Nick has made clear he wants to see as many Conservatives as possible elected. A vote for Reform is a vote to let Keir Starmer into No10.
However, Labour Party chair Anneliese Dodds responded to the situation by writing to Conservative counterpart Richard Holden.
She urged Holden to remove the whip from Fletcher and “provide clarity” over whether the Prime Minister would rule out a deal with Farage.
Conservative Party rules also state that members are required to “sustain and promote the objects and values of the Conservative Party” and endorsing rival candidates could be grounds for a disciplinary investigation and potential expulsion.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Michael Heseltine, who was an ardent supporter of EU membership, had the whip removed in 2019 after saying he would vote for the Liberal Democrats in the EU Parliamentary Elections.