can the conservatives be trusted again?

  As Chair of the Reform UK Tunbridge Wells branch, I believe it is time to speak plainly. After decades of broken promises, U-turns and betrayals, the Conservative Party simply cannot be trusted again. They have failed our country nationally — and they have failed us here in Tunbridge Wells.

  Let us start with the issue that affects every household and every business in this community: taxation. For years under Conservative government, Britain was subjected to the highest tax burden in 70 years, and we are still living with the consequences today. Their policies placed enormous strain on small businesses, pubs and independent traders across Tunbridge Wells. Many simply could not cope with soaring business rates, VAT pressures, wage costs and energy bills. The result is still visible in our town and villages: closed pubs, empty shops and struggling local enterprises that once formed the backbone of our community. Labour have undoubtedly exacerbated the problem since coming into office — but the Conservatives were the root cause, laying the foundations for the economic pressures we face today. They promised to be the party of low taxes, yet during their long period in power they repeatedly raised them, hitting ordinary working people and suffocating local economic life.

They simply cannot be trusted not to tax us to an early grave!

  Then there is the issue of local democracy. Many residents are still unaware that it was the Conservative-led Kent County Council that voted to delay last May’s elections, attempting to push them back to 2026. Only government intervention prevented it. Imagine that — local Conservatives trying to stop the people of Kent from having their democratic say. If that is not a warning sign of a party losing its way, what is?

They simply cannot be trusted with our local democracy!

  Nationally, their record on immigration is catastrophic. For 14 years — 24 years if you include their earlier period in power — the Conservatives promised to reduce immigration. Instead, they drove it to the highest levels in British history. They promised to stop the small boats; instead, the number of illegal crossings surged. They claimed the European Court of Human Rights blocked action — yet they never left it. Why? Because the Conservative Party has become far too broad a church, trying to appease every internal faction and ending up paralysed.

They simply cannot be trusted to stop the boats and deport the illegal immigrants!

  They also presided over the steep decline of our Armed Forces. The Army was cut to its smallest size in centuries, equipment programmes stalled, recruitment faltered and ammunition stockpiles dwindled. This happened while global threats were rising — an unforgivable dereliction of duty.

They simply cannot be trusted with the defence of our great country!

  Our farmers, especially across Kent and the Weald, were already struggling long before Labour arrived. Conservative environmental schemes were chaotic, payment systems delayed and bureaucracy piled on. The very people who feed the nation were left battling to survive.

They simply cannot be trusted by our farming community!

So now I ask the only question that now matters:

How many times must we be let down before we finally say “never again”?

ROB GRINDLEY