Dan Barker, previously slated as the Conservative candidate for Greater Manchester mayor, has defected to the Reform Party, marking a notable shift in the political landscape ahead of the mayoral election.
Dan Barker, who was previously the Conservative Party’s candidate for the Greater Manchester mayoral election, has defected to the Reform Party. Barker announced his enthusiasm for joining Reform, citing it as a party that truly represents the ordinary people of the country. Consequently, he will now represent the Reform Party in the upcoming mayoral election scheduled for May 2nd. This move occurs amid growing momentum for the Reform Party, highlighted by the defection of former Conservative member Lee Anderson to Reform UK after his suspension over comments directed at London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
Originally known as the Brexit Party and initiated with Nigel Farage’s support in 2018, the Reform Party’s policies focus on stricter immigration control, decreased taxation, overhauls to the NHS, and criticism of the government’s plans for Net Zero emissions, which they label as ‘net stupid’.
The switch by Barker to the Reform Party comes at a challenging time for the Conservative Party, which is grappling with notably low support levels, pegged at 19% according to a recent poll – the lowest since Liz Truss’s resignation. This shift is perceived as a strategic blow to the Conservatives, as Reform UK, under the leadership of Richard Tice and with the acquisition of high-profile members like Barker and Anderson, narrows the gap with the Tories in public support to just four points.
This series of events underscores a significant period of transformation and dissatisfaction within the UK’s political scene, as the Reform Party seeks to reposition itself as a strong contender against established political entities, promising to reshape the dynamics of upcoming electoral contests, starting with the Greater Manchester mayoral race.
