Tory Councillor Laila Cunningham, who represents Lancaster Gate on Westminster City Council, is defecting to Reform UK.
In a post to X: Ms Cunningham said:
I can no longer defend 14 years of failure. I’ve left the Conservatives and joined @reformparty_uk to fight for real change — lower taxes, controlled borders, and putting Britain first.”
Ms Cunningham's letter:
Dear Paul,
I am writing to inform you of my decision to resign the Whip of the Conservative Group on Westminster City Council.
I have not taken this step lightly. I have devoted a great deal of time and effort to supporting the party over many years.
But like others who have supported the party for many years, I feel that it's not so much a case of me leaving the party, but that the party has left me.
The Conservative Party used to be a party that stood for sound public finances, low tax, controlled immigration, and law and order. On these, and almost every other big issue facing Britain — including women's rights, net zero, and DEI — the Conservative Party has let the country down.
I will now represent Reform UK on Westminster City Council. Not only is Reform a party I feel strongly aligned to, but I also believe it is a party that can provide the leadership to save Britain.
Yours sincerely,
Laila Cunningham
https://twitter.com/policylaila/status/1937043702125371712
In a further post to X Laila Cunningham linked to a piece in The Standard.
https://twitter.com/policylaila/status/1937044568370745854
