Published 11 days ago • loading... • Updated 9 days ago

Reform UK Gets First Police and Crime Commissioner After Tory Defection

Announcing his switch on Monday, Rupert Matthews, Police and Crime Commissioner for Leicestershire and Rutland, declared he joined Reform UK alongside Nigel Farage.
Citing systemic issues, Matthews argued he defected because he criticised the criminal justice system’s “dark heart of wokeness” and accused a “self-serving, self-entitled liberal elite” of letting the country down.
Rupert Matthews said police officers were hampered by working with “one hand tied behind their back”, shoplifting is getting out of control, and anti-social behaviour is turning town centres into an apocalyptic wasteland.
The defection leaves the Conservative Party needing a replacement candidate in Leicestershire and Rutland, signaling broader discontent and potential party realignment.
Building on recent local gains, the next Leicestershire and Rutland election will test Reform UK's influence after controlling 10 councils in May.

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Daily Mirror

Lean Left

Reform UK police chief's 'dark heart of wokeness' claim under fire - The Mirror

Rupert Matthews, who has defected from the Tory Party to Nigel Farage’s rightwing outfit, claimed the UK needs 'to cut the dark heart of wokeness out of our criminal justice system'

10 days ago·London, United Kingdom

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Spectator UK

Lean Right

Farage clarifies Reform's female prisons stance

To Reform UK, which is in its third week of its crime crackdown campaign which looks to tackle ‘Lawless Britain’. The party claimed Monday’s press conference was the most significant one yet, with two new recruits unveiled. The first was former MEP Rupert Matthews, who – after 40 years as a member of the Tory party

10 days ago·London, United Kingdom

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