On a bleak and overcast morning in the heart of Witney town, rain cascades down against the Cotswold stone, creating a dreary sight on the pavements.
This somber July setting serves as a fitting analogy for the prevailing Conservative sentiment in this town.
Witney, located in Oxfordshire, has historically been a stronghold for the Tory party for more than a century and was once represented by former Prime Minister Lord Cameron. However, it has recently lost its status as a safe constituency.
A conspicuous “Liberal Democrats Winning Here” sign along the roadside now points to the town’s newly elected Member of Parliament.
Charlie Maynard secured victory for the Lib Dems by garnering 20,832 votes, surpassing Robert Courts’ 16,493 votes.
Locating a Conservative voter from the recent election willing to discuss their choice proves to be a challenging task.
The first individual open to conversation is Mark Doig, situated outside the local butcher shop, who expresses his opinion that the Tories are currently “in disarray”.
He remarks, “Too many changes in leadership,” highlighting Boris Johnson and Liz Truss as contributors to the party’s decline.
Additionally, he mentions being inclined towards possibly voting for the Liberal Democrats in the future.
Following suit is Joan White, a Conservative voter, located outside Waitrose on her mobility scooter, who traditionally supported the blue party.
She remarks, “They have a lot of ground to cover, don’t they? Issues like immigration require significant attention from them.”
Furthermore, she notes her appreciation for Rishi Sunak, describing him as a respectful figure in politics, albeit lacking in assertiveness.
This sentiment is echoed by others in the region, who view Sunak positively but question his leadership abilities.
Patricia Harvey-Thompson
Agreeing with this sentiment, Patricia Harvey-Thompson describes Sunak as lacking strength, although she sympathetically cast her vote in his favor.
She muses, “Perhaps I should have supported the Lib Dems, but I wanted to at least offer him my vote.”
Expressing her current feelings as a Conservative voter, she simply states, “Disappointed.”
She goes on to emphasize that she holds resentment towards the party due to the events of “partygate,” which resulted in the loss of her relative to COVID.
For Patricia and many others I spoke with, the Conservatives have fallen short on various fronts.
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Jack Treloar, a 19-year-old Conservative council member in Witney, acknowledges the desire for change among the population, both at a national and local level.
Jack Treloar
He emphasizes that this sentiment led to strategic voting against the Tories.
Interested in further reading? Check out the latest article on how uneasy voters propelled Labour to a significant victory and the prospects for Sunak’s replacement as the Conservative leader.
What lies ahead for the Conservatives in Witney?
Jack mentions that the Reform party played a role in dividing the vote, highlighting the need for the Conservatives to diligently work towards regaining trust.
It is evident that there is widespread disillusionment with the Conservative party in this town, with the recent election serving as a platform for expressing discontent.
The impending Conservative leader will need to implement substantial changes to win back the support of the electorate.
Even those who remained loyal in the recent election appear to be wavering in their allegiance.
