'I don't think my defection to Reform UK is going to affect the day job very much at all'

POLICE COMMISSIONER ASKED ABOUT ROLE AFTER CHANGE

- By TESS RUSHIN

LEICESTERSHIRE'S police and crime commissioner believes "people voted for the person, not the party" as he explained his move from the Conservatives to Reform UK.

Rupert Matthews made the claim at a special meeting of the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Police and Crime Panel this week.

Mr Matthews has twice been elected - in 2021 and 2024 - to the role while standing as a Conservative.

However, on Monday, August 4, he defected to Reform UK.

The party gained a wave of support in the local elections in May, and now runs Leicestershire County Council.

This week’s meeting was held so panel members could put questions to the PCC relating to his recent change in political affiliation.

Mr Matthews maintained that his change in party “won't affect the day job”.

The meeting lasted nearly two hours, during which Mr Matthews was asked about his new political allegiance and his role going forward.

He believes people voted for him personally, rather than because he was the Conservatives’ candidate in the election.

He said his defection to Reform happened because he “got fed up with the inaction of the Conservative Party at a national level”.

He said he thought that Reform was “moving in the right direction”.

Chairman of the meeting Les Phillimore asked the PCC what he hoped to achieve by changing allegiance to a party that had just five Members of Parliament.