Leicestershire police and crime commissioner defects from Conservatives to Reform UK
Reform UK's leader Nigel Farage made the announcement at a press conference today (August 4th).
Mr Matthews has held the position since 2021 and was re-elected in 2024.
He served as an MEP for the East Midlands for the Tories between 2017 and 2019.
His defection makes Mr Matthews the first-ever Reform PCC.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, Mr Matthews said the 'dark heart of wokeness' needed to be cut out of the criminal justice system.
He said: 'The self-serving, self-entitled liberal elite who have let our country down time after time are now on notice that their day is almost done, be they Conservative or Labour governments, everyone knows our politicians have failed us all. They have let this country down. They have let the British people down. Enough. Now is the time for Reform.'
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