Policing boss defects from Tories to Reform

The police and crime commissioner for Leicestershire and Rutland has defected from the Conservatives to Reform UK, giving the party its first PCC.

Rupert Matthews has held the position since 2021 and served as an MEP for the East Midlands for the Tories between 2017 and 2019.

Speaking at a press conference alongside Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, he said the "dark heart of wokeness" needed to be cut out of the criminal justice system.

"The self-serving, self-entitled liberal elite who have let our country down time after time are now on notice their day is almost done," he said.

"Be they Conservative or Labour governments, everyone knows our politicians have failed us all. They have let this country down. They have let the British people down. Enough. Now is the time for Reform."

By Henry Zeffman, chief political correspondent, BBC News

Rupert Matthews is hardly a big figure in the national Conservative Party.

But his defection will still cause some anxiety. It adds to the sense that at the local level – the bedrock of any political party – the institutional Conservative Party is fraying, and that the energy on the right of British politics is with Reform UK instead.

For Reform, after they gained control of 10 councils in the local elections in May, gaining their first police and crime commissioner is another local government milestone, and a useful office from which to make arguments about what they claim to be Britains "lawlessness".

That said, there is a risk for Reform in acquiring too many ex-Conservatives that they incorporate too many of the politicians who they claim have left Britain in a mess.

Matthews was re-elected as PCC in May 2024, beating Labours Rory Palmer by 860 votes.

Announcing the defection on Monday, Farage told the conference: "Hes twice been elected as a Conservative but today he comes across to us as our first police and crime commissioner."

He added: "Welcome on board."

The switch will consolidate Reform UKs power base locally, with the party having led Leicestershire County Council since May after forming a minority administration.

However, the local Conservative group has said Matthews should call a by-election following his decision to switch political allegiances.

Peter Bedford, Conservative MP for Mid Leicestershire, said: "Its disappointing that the 62,000 Leicestershire and Rutland residents who voted for the Conservative candidate at last years PCC election have had their democratic voice overturned in this way.

"The Reform Party couldnt even be bothered to field a candidate at that election so for the police and crime commissioner to defect to Reform beggars belief."

Labour accused Farage of "swelling the Reform ranks" with "the ghost of Tory past" and said his party offered "anger, but no answers".

Additional reporting by Gavin Bevis.

Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.