Cllr Steve Harden is the Shadow Cabinet Member for Environmental Services on Rushmoor Borough Council.
In July 2024, the Conservatives fell to the worst general election defeat in the party’s history, followed by another round of disappointing local election results in 2025. Conservatives across the country woke to a new reality, councillors lost, council administrations changed – and new Members of Parliament. For many, this has been an agonisingly short walk into opposition, from being a strong controlling group to a smaller opposition party.
While it is painful to now find ourselves in the political wilderness, we do not have time for self-pity, we need action. We need to get back to the principles that led us to our historic election results in 2019. As a newly elected councillor in 2024, at times I have felt drained by the national headlines and wondered about the future of our party.
You start to wonder; were the 14 years of Conservatism that bad? Many of us fall into the mistake of the last General Election. Complaining about the past rather than reminding ourself of our success.
It’s a play by those who wish to crush our spirit and take advantage of the recent General Election mistakes, to forget our successes. We are the party who delivered Brexit, restored the country’s finances, delivered the furlough scheme, and a vaccination programme admired by the world – and pursued a levelling up agenda, making real differences to people’s lives.
Yet, across the country, many local associations find themselves in a state of limbo, awaiting new policy direction and inspiration from the national party. Across the country, we have been waiting for the national party to deliver before action is taken. We can’t wait years or even months for the national leadership to formulate ideas and offer new policies.
I believe our future remains bright and full of potential. I have spoken to hundreds of members across the country who know what Conservative values are and where things have gone wrong. They know how to connect with their residents and have a strong record of delivery, gaining years of experience. We have quality candidates who sadly lost their seats, who are now craving positive news and something to fight for. Yet, action on a large scale locally is missing, with members waiting for the national party to step up rather than take the lead. We need to be restoring the party’s identity from the bottom up.
We cannot afford to stand still or rest on our laurels of being the most successful party ever. This will only allow parties like Reform to fill the political vacuum, meaning we could fall into the oblivion our opponents wish us to believe has already come to pass.
It’s time for local associations, councillors and members to work to reclaim our identity and lead by example. Championing the core Conservative principles of personal responsibility, limited government, free markets and a strong economy that led us to our previous success. While the national party regroups and redefines its direction, locally we must act. As local organisations, we have the responsibility to set out a clear, positive vision for our councils, grounded in Conservative values. Otherwise, the 2026 local elections will have a similar result.
We have brilliant people across the country needing inspiration, waiting for CCHQ to provide the support we crave. This is not likely in the short term, while they focus on the rebuild. Instead, we need to look internally giving people opportunities under the wing of our strong local group leaders, councillors and association members. We can drive the party forward and look ahead to 2026 with optimism and a new sense of direction.
By putting forward a local plan early, which champions our principles, we can restore the positivity the country and residents need, providing the breathing space for the national party to step up as it will under Kemi’s leadership. Providing a clear path to the future, we can build the foundation that leads to our party’s return to government.
This article is a call for action, to reclaim our voice – which starts with us. We have the principles, the experience and most importantly, the people. We just need the bravery to act to save our party. The party’s next chapter won’t just be made in Westminster, but by people locally, in council chambers, community fairs, and meeting people on the door. We have experienced the dark times, now it’s time to light the beacon once again. Let’s get to work.
