Leicestershire and Rutland's Police and Crime Commissioner says the 'inaction of the Tory party's shadow ministerial team' led him to jump ship to Reform UK. 

Rupert Matthews explained his meeting at a special meeting of the police and crime panel on Monday 22 September, which had been called for him to explain why he had changed political colours and how it impacts on the police and crime plan.  

The role of the commissioner is to hold the police chief to account and put together and deliver on a police and crime plan.  

At an at times tense meeting, Mr Matthews was faced with many questions by the panel, which is made up of councillors from different political parties. 

The first question asked to the commissioner was by the Liberal Democrat leader of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council Stuart Bray who quoted Reform's leader Nigel Farage who called an MP who changed political parties without a by election a 'dishonourable member.' 

He asked Mr Matthews, are you going to be the dishonourable police and crime commissioner, to which the commissioner responded 'no'. 

Leader of Leicester County Council Dan Harrison, who himself was a Tory before being elected as a Reform UK councillor in May, asked what prompted the change of allegiance. 

Mr Matthews said: "I got really fed up with the inaction of the Conservative Party at a national level. I got very frustrated by the lack of movement on their part." 

Chair of the panel Les Phillimore (Con) asked: "Correct me if I'm wrong, but your term of office as a PCC will cease before the likely next general election and at this moment in time Reform UK are not in power. So, what would you help to achieve by changing allegiance to a part that's got five members of parliament? 

Mr Matthews, who is in his second term as a PCC said: "Freedom of action on my part, I suppose. They [Reform UK] have been setting the news agenda over the past few months and I believe they will continue to set the news agenda. And I find myself getting a little more support from them, than I was the national Conservative Party." 

The Labour government, which was elected last year has a huge majority, with 399 MPS compared to 119 Tory MPs, 72 Lib Dem and five Reform UK in parliament. 

The commissioner said the police and crime plan would not change. 



Rupert Matthews explains reason for movement from Conservative to Reform UK (Photo: LDRS)

He was asked whether he had 'jumped ship' due to self-preservation reasons. Mr Matthews said it was likely the commissioner role would cease and rolled into new powers of a strategic mayor, so there is not likely to be future PCC elections. 

Asked by Rutland County Councillor Christine Wise (Lib Dem) whether his values had changed, he said: "I think moving from one centre right party to another right of centre party is not terribly unusual. Lots of members of parliament have done it.  

"I think if I suddenly announced I was joining the Communist party, one would have to think my personal values had changed, but I don't think my personal values have changed at all. If anything, it's the Conservative Party that has changed and sort of become a bit like a rabbit in the headlights." 

Asked whether he is still committed to net zero, he said the words of other Reform UK politicians had 'no force' within Leicestershire and Rutland. 

He said the force was due to embark on a new estates strategy and sustainability would be part of the review. 

Asked if there was still a commitment to decarbonise the estate, he said he did not think he had ever given a commitment to net zero, but had given a commitment to sustainability and to reduce costs. 

When he was pointed to a BBC article in June when he said the Leicestershire Force had a 'duty to move toward net zero carbon emissions', he said he must have made a 'mistake when talking to the journalist'. 

Asked whether Reform UK's Department of Government Efficiency (DoGE) team would be involved in the estates review, he said 'no'. 

Labour councillor Liz Blackstone asked if he still had a commitment to reducing violence against women and girls – he said he did as it was in the plan.  

She then brought up an instance in which Nigel Farage was seen with his arm around accused rapist and alleged sex trafficker Andrew Tate and asked how this increased confidence from women.  

He replied that he was not responsible for everything every member of Reform UK says.  

Panel member Elly Cutkelvin (Labour) said she was uncomfortable with him disassociating with the behaviour of people in his new party and that was a 'fallacy'. 

Chief executive of the commissioner's office Claire Trewartha said in her view the commissioner's change of political allegiance has not affected the office's work.