Miriam cates has taken to X/Twitter today to confirm she "will not be joining the Reform Party".
1. I am a true conservative. True conservatives shouldn’t leave the Conservative Party.
2. I won’t betray the trust of those who’ve given time & resources to campaign for me as a Conservative.
3. While I share frustrations of Reform voters, I can’t support the Party’s fantasy tax pledges that would bankrupt the country & exempt millions from paying tax. If you don’t pay tax, it's easy to support unlimited government spending. These promises just can’t be delivered.
I‘ve no idea if I’ll be re-elected in July. That’s up to voters in Penistone & Stocksbridge. But if I am returned to Parliament, I want to play a part in re-building the Conservative Party, helping to transform it into a patriotic party offering hope to young as well as old.
If Labour win a majority, all elected conservative MPs - regardless of party - will have to cooperate to oppose what could be a very powerful government, that will weaken the economy, vandalise our constitution, limit free speech & further embed leftism in our institutions.
I have every respect for Nigel Farage; he has an important role in shaking up the establishment, which, for the most part has failed to understand the needs and concerns of anyone outside the liberal Westminster bubble. But as for me, I’ll take my chances as a Conservative.
https://twitter.com/miriam_cates/status/1800064098593366438