Conservative Party conference this year demonstrated that the Conservative local government family is now the dominant pillar of our party.
We still control 77 councils and local authority budgets amounting to billions of pounds.
Being out of government nationally is tough, but our party can continue to deliver conservatism through the Conservative councils we continue to prudently run. People trust Conservatives and their delivery in local government. It is why our family has seen eight local by-election gains since the general election.
I want to thank all our Conservative councillors who engaged with us during conference. We had 700 attend our reception to celebrate the achievements of Conservatives in local government.
As The Times reported last month: “Conservatives in the LGA have been on the front foot in this leadership contest.”
The LGA Conservative Group has been relentless in lobbying the leadership candidates for the local government family. I am pleased that all the candidates realise we won’t get back into government until we become the largest party in local government again.
On a separate note, the LGA Conservative Group has now formally submitted its consultation response to the Government’s proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework.
As I have continued to stress, Conservatives in local government are not against housing. But we will only deliver it alongside proper infrastructure and design.