“The right must unite” says Conservative Post Founder and Editor Claire Bullivant.
This week, Tim Montgomerie, founder of ConservativeHome, made headlines by officially joining Reform UK. Last week, my dear friend and Conservative stalwart Dame Andrea Jenkyns did the same.
These are people I respect immensely, and their decisions have made waves. But for me, the answer to whether I’ll follow suit is simple: I love Reform, and I love the Conservatives.
Call me a fence-sitter if you must, but I don’t care. I’m not about tribal loyalties; I’m about the principles that unite us on the right: conservatism, liberty, and a love for our country. Both the Conservatives and Reform embody those ideals, albeit from different vantage points. So much so that I’ve been considering rebranding Conservative Post to Conservative Post & Reformer – a news source for all true conservatives across parties.
Conservatism Runs Through My Veins
I am, unapologetically, a conservative to my core. My parents, small business owners, work six, sometimes seven days a week, their entrepreneurial spirit and unrelenting hard work propelling them forward.
I grew up watching their dedication, and I see now how the Labour government’s big-state policies threaten to strip away everything they—and millions like them—have built.
I believe in free markets, free speech, low taxes, and small government. I detest wokery and the creeping hand of state control. That’s why I remain a member of the Conservative Party, even as I acknowledge its flaws.
Let’s be honest: the party has been infiltrated in recent years by some MPs who’d look more at home in the Lib Dems. This isn’t some fluke; it was the result of a rotten candidates’ team at CCHQ. But the party is worth saving. It still has the infrastructure, some incredible MPs, the history, and muscle memory to lead Britain back to greatness—if it can rediscover its purpose.
Reform: A Necessary Disruption
Reform UK supporters, as I see it, are largely disenfranchised Conservatives. If my inbox is anything to go by, they’re you—Conservative Post readers—dedicated voters who feel betrayed by broken promises and a glaring lack of vision.
I was furious during the General Election when Reform candidates split the vote, costing us brilliant MPs like Dame Andrea Jenkyns, Liz Truss, and Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg—three extraordinary minds lost to division.
But as time has passed, I’ve come to understand why it had to happen. Nigel Farage, a friend and political rockstar, saw what so many did not: the right needed a wake-up call. Reform’s boldness has injected a much-needed sense of urgency into the political discourse, highlighting issues like border control, energy independence, and the bloated public sector.
Nigel has that rare political charisma that draws in everyone from grannies abandoning their shopping for a hug to kids chasing him down the street for selfies. Reform UK has fresh ideas, and the Conservative Party would be foolish not to take note.
The Right Must Unite
Here’s the reality: the Conservatives need Reform’s boldness, and Reform needs the Conservatives’ organisational strength and muscle memory. A fractured right will only hand power again to the Labour Party, whose student-politics approach is already driving Britain into the ground.
I’ll say it plainly: socialism doesn’t work. It never has, and it never will. The right must unite, and that’s why I support both parties. Call me a “Reservative” or a “Conformer” if you like; I wear it as a badge of honour.
A Movement for Change
The time has come to go beyond party lines. That’s why I’m launching The Great British PAC soon, a new movement to rally Conservatives, Reformers, and patriots who love this country and want to save it. The cavalry is coming, and we’re bringing together the best and brightest from across the right.
People like Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch may not agree on everything, but they share a burning desire to protect Britain’s freedoms, sovereignty, and heritage. This is the coalition we need to beat back socialism and restore greatness to our nation.
So, to answer the question: no, I’m not jumping ship. I’m doubling down on the fight for Conservatism AND Reform. The stakes are too high to do anything less. Britain deserves better, and together, we can deliver it.
Stay tuned. Big things are coming.
By Claire Bullivant
Founder and Editor of Conservative Post, Co-Founder and former CEO of Conservative Democratic Organisation and Co-Founder of the Great British PAC (coming soon). www.GreatBritishPac.com
I see my comment was deleted, after a while had gone by.
Afraid to hear the counter-argument? That the right cannot unite in the way you describe, since its support would evaporate due to the toxic untrustworthiness of the Tories poisoning the well for Reform.