Reform UK casts major shadow over Tory party as membership slumps
Reform UK casts major shadow over Tory party as membership slumps
PA
Reform UK has cast a major shadow over the Conservative Party as data reveals voter turnout in the Tory leadership contest hit a record low following the victory of Kemi Badenoch yesterday.
Despite Badenoch securing 53,806 votes against Jenrick's 41,388, the contest was marked by a record-low turnout and the tightest margin of victory in Tory leadership history.
Just 72.8 per cent of eligible party members cast their ballots, the lowest since member voting was introduced in 1998.
The result also showed the Conservative Party's electorate has shrunk by 23.6 per cent since 2022, with only 131,680 eligible voters this time (down from 172,437).
Reform UK casts major shadow over Tory party as membership slumps
PA
More than 35,000 members seemingly opted not to vote.
Emma Levin, an associate director at the polling company Savanta, said: "Turnout was down nine points and 14 points on the 2022 and 2019 contests respectively, which is an outcome our research of Conservative councillors over the summer pointed towards.
"One in seven councillors said they would not vote in the final two contest, and it looks like many members were also dissatisfied with their choice on offer.
"If Badenoch is unsuccessful as leader, there is likely to be a renewed debate about the party's selection process."
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Kemi Badenoch is the new leader of the Tory party PADuring her campaign, Badenoch pledged to return the Conservatives to "first principles" and promised a series of policy reviews in the coming months which aim to shape a new platform for the party.
One of Badenoch's major tests will be winning back support from Reform UK, which has seen explosive growth in recent months.
GB News understands membership of the party has grown to more than 93,000 as of November 3, 2024.
Some 4 million people voted for Nigel Farage's party in the recent general election, eating into a large portion of the Conservative vote.
Reform UK Councillor Tony Cox wrote on X on Saturday: "Since Kemi's victory today, the number of eligible Tory members is 131,680 down 23.6 per cent from 172,437 two years ago.
"I'm not at all surprised that Tory membership has plummeted."
Issuing a direct message to Conservative members who voted for Robert Jenrick, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called for those disappointed in the result to join him.
He said: "The Tories have chosen. They've chosen kemi Badenoch over Robert Jenrick.
"What that means is the Conservative Party has now committed to staying gin the ECHR which means we can't deport foreign criminals and they will never, ever stop the boats.
Nigel Farage issued a call to those who voted for Jenrick to join him
PA
"So if you voted Jenrick, or wanted Jenrick to win, you now realise the direction of the Conservative Party. It is now time to join Reform. Do it."
Among MPs, Badenoch's support was the third-lowest in the final ballot, at 34.7 per cent despite being the bookies' favourite for most of the race.
YouGov polling between 30-31 October showed more respondents thought Jenrick would make a better PM (12 per cent) than Badenoch (10 per cent), though a majority were unsure.
When compared to Sir Keir Starmer, 27 per cent believed he would make a better PM than Badenoch (20 per cent).
Only 19 per cent of Britons said they cared about the Conservative leadership election. Even among 2024 Conservative voters, 52 per cent said it mattered little who won.
Notably, 51 per cent of voters polled felt the Tory party was not very relevant or not relevant at all in British politics currently.
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