Dan Barker, originally standing as the Conservative candidate for Greater Manchester, has joined Reform UK, pointing to a broader discontent with the Conservative Party’s focus and stirring the political waters ahead of the mayoral election.
Dan Barker, the Conservative candidate for the Greater Manchester mayoral election, has shifted his allegiance to the Reform UK party, marking a significant development in the regional political scene. This switch has been perceived as a direct criticism of the Conservative Party’s approach towards the north of England, with Barker accusing his former party of neglecting the area and focusing predominantly on constituencies in the South East and South West. The backdrop to his defection includes a critique of the Conservative Party’s performance in Manchester, where they secured less than 20% of the vote in 2021.
Reform UK, under the leadership of Richard Tice and with Nigel Farage serving as its honorary president, is gaining traction among voters disgruntled with the Conservative Party, particularly around issues such as immigration and net zero policies. The party, which is planning to contest seats across the UK in the upcoming general election, insists on not stepping aside to avoid vote splitting, unlike its strategy in the 2019 general election as the Brexit Party.
This move by Barker, following closely on the heels of another high-profile Conservative defection by Lee Anderson, has injected unpredictability into the upcoming Greater Manchester mayoral election where Barker will now face off against Labour’s Andy Burnham as a Reform UK candidate. The defections signal possible realignment within the British political landscape, reflecting a growing disillusionment within Conservative ranks.
Separately, Reform UK has found itself at the centre of controversy, with Nigel Farage criticizing the BBC for an erroneous labeling of the party as “far-right,” a term for which the broadcaster later apologized, acknowledging it fell short of their editorial standards. Farage’s criticism highlighted concerns about media bias and the accuracy of political labeling in public discourse. Furthermore, Reform UK has had to navigate challenges related to the removal of candidates over inappropriate social media comments, raising questions about its candidate selection process.
As the political scenario in Greater Manchester and across the UK continues to evolve, the Conservative Party faces challenges in maintaining unity and addressing the threat posed by an ascending Reform UK, especially with key elections on the horizon.
