My latest focus groups took place among 2024 Tory-Labour switchers in Tamworth, Reform voters in Clacton, and Conservatives in Romford. The groups talked about local elections, social media, the fallout from the Mandelson saga, Reform’s new shadow cabinet, prospects for the Tories and what constitutes Peak Starmer.
To stop us voting was the only way
Our Essex participants were digesting the day’s news that their local elections were back on following the government’s latest reversal. They were sceptical, to say the least, about the reasons given for cancelling the elections in the first place: “They were supposedly moving borders around. Personally, I think it was because Labour knew they were going to lose a lot of areas, so to stop us voting was the only way;” with all the changes that happen in politics over the years, “I’ve never known elections to be cancelled like that.” Nor did they give ministers any praise for seeing the light: “They thought they were going to lose the case brought by Reform. That’s why they changed their mind;” “If Reform hadn’t pushed it, who would have done?” “I think they were running scared, more than that they deserve credit for doing it.”
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