The surprise transition of Stephen Thompson, the long serving leader of the Conservative group on Preston City Council, to reform the UK has shaken the political landscape in Preston. Thompson’s move marks both a symbolic and practical shift after having spent 18 years in the Conservative fold, raising questions about the strength of the Tories locally and reflecting wider cracks in their national presence.
Thompson first entered the council chamber in 2007, representing Preston Rural North. He began his career as a steady Tory voice, even serving as the leader of the Conservative group across several terms. Although he vacated his position between 2019 and 2022, his return reaffirmed his commitment to local politics. Now this sudden defection has stunned colleagues and opponents.
This decision was justified in uncompromising terms by him who argued that both major parties had lost the trust of ordinary voters. His words had a glint of frustration with Westminster politics, where long-promised reforms have failed to materialize.
He highlighted many grievances, among which were the Conservatives’ inability to deliver on reducing bureaucracy, what was once promised as a “bonfire of quangos,” and the continued rise in immigration numbers. He even said that such failures had left traditional Tory supporters alienated and had created a productive field for a more hard-edged alternative like Reform UK. Thompson was keen to emphasize that his decision was not motivated by ambition.
Thompson’s move made him Reform UK’s first councillor in Preston- a symbolic breakthrough in a city where Labour has long held dominance. The Conservative presence on the council was reduced to just five seats, while Labour maintains 27, the Liberal Democrats hold 13, and independents and minor parties make up the rest.
The deputy Conservative leader, Harry Landless, has stepped in as interim leader of the opposition group. Although he regretted Thompson’s departure, he also acknowledged that this transition had been looming for some time.
This sudden defection represents more than the loss of one councillor for Preston’s Conservatives. It signifies a fragmentation of the opposition vote and complicates their efforts to present a united front against Labour in next year’s local elections. A rival for right-leaning voters was created on the UK’s arrival on the council, who might otherwise have remained loyal to the Tory brand.
A larger trend across Lancashire is the outcome of Thompson’s defection, where Reform UK has rapidly gained ground. The party earlier in 2025 won control of Lancashire County Council, seizing 53 of 84 seats in a dramatic result that stunned political analysts. This victory followed a wave of defections from Conservative councillors, which included high-profile figures like Stephen Atkinson, the former leader of Ribble Valley Council.
Reform UK is not merely nibbling at the edges of Tory support by such shifts but is beginning to establish itself as a credible governing force at the local level. In that sense, Thompson’s switch appears less like an isolated act of rebellion and more like part of a wider realignment.
Thompson’s defection to Preston is a reminder that local politics can be as volatile as Westminster. Labour remains dominant for now, but the presence of Reform UK has injected new unpredictability into council dynamics. The shift in the balance of power might not be initiated by Thompson, now a lone councillor, but his symbolic act opens the door for others to follow.
