Dan Barker, the Conservative candidate for Mayor of Greater Manchester, has made a significant political move by defecting to the Reform Party. He cites the Conservative Party’s alleged neglect of the North of England as the primary reason for his departure.
Barker, initially slated to challenge Labour’s Andy Burnham in the upcoming mayoral election, expressed his disillusionment with the Tories, accusing them of prioritizing southern seats over the interests of regions like Greater Manchester.
In an interview with the BBC, Barker criticized the Conservative Party‘s strategy, claiming that they had effectively “given up” on the North and instead focused on protecting their stronghold in the South East and South West from the threat posed by the Liberal Democrats.
He highlighted a perceived lack of investment and attention from the Tories toward Greater Manchester and other northern areas, suggesting that they were neglecting these regions in favor of more politically advantageous territories.
Barker’s defection follows a trend within the Conservative Party, with senior figures like Lee Anderson also defecting to the Reform Party earlier in the month. These moves underscore growing discontent and divisions within the party, particularly regarding its regional representation and electoral strategy approach.
Responding to Barker’s defection, a Tory source acknowledged the party’s challenges in traditionally Labour-dominated areas like Manchester, emphasizing the need for realism in allocating resources and focusing on winnable seats.
The source cited the Conservative Party’s relatively low vote share in Manchester in the 2021 elections as evidence of the electoral landscape’s complexity and the necessity of strategic decision-making.
Barker’s defection signals a broader debate within the Conservative Party about its priorities and electoral prospects, particularly in regions outside its traditional strongholds. It remains to be seen how this internal rift will impact the party’s performance in the upcoming mayoral election and its broader political trajectory in the North of England.