Reform UK are Tories in disguise

Labour’s 2025 local election strategy of branding Reform UK as “Tories in disguise” appears misguided for 3 reasons.

Firstly, the Conservative Party’s current diminished influence means that associating Reform UK with the Tories lacks the intended negative impact.

Secondly, this approach risks legitimizing Reform UK by portraying them as a more palatable, mainstream alternative, which could inadvertently broaden their appeal among moderate voters.

Thirdly, and most importantly, it’s not credible. According to the Labour Party’s own research, of Reform’s 1,630 local candidates only 60 are Tory defectors. And, less scientifically, my strong instinct is that voters would not accept that Farage “is a Tory”.