We're lifelong Tories but rooted for Reform - now we've ended up with Labour: Inside the towns that turned their backs on the Conservatives - but 'ignored' tactical vote warnings and are now stuck with Keir's policies on immigration and benefits

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Britons who ditched the Conservatives in previously-safe Tory seats have told MailOnline how they voted for Reform UK – but ended up with Labour.

Some right-wing voters even admitted ignoring warnings on tactical voting because they could not bear to back Rishi Sunak's party after 14 years in power.

And Nigel Farage's party was a big beneficiary as it took 4.1million votes across the UK and five seats – while finishing second in 98 other constituencies.

Some voters decided to go for Reform this time instead of the Tories, which led to a collapse in the Conservative vote and opened the door for Labour candidates.

But Reform voters are now left with Sir Keir Starmer's policies on immigration and other matters, many of which are in stark contrast to those of Mr Farage's party. 

Now, MailOnline has visited three seats in southern England which were previously staunchly Tory, but all received a large Reform vote and have turned red:

 

SOUTHEND WEST AND LEIGH (REFORM - 18%)

LABOUR GAIN FROM CONSERVATIVE 

1. Labour, David Burton-Sampson - 16,739 (35.6%)
2. Conservative, Anna Firth - 14,790 (31.5%)
3. Reform UK, Peter Little - 8,273 (17.6%)
4. Green, Tilly Hogrebe - 3,262 (6.9%)
5. Liberal Democrat, Stephen Cummins - 3,174 (6.8%)
6. Confelicity, James Miller - 262 (0.6%)
7. Independent, Tom Darwood - 172 (0.4%)
8. Heritage Party, Lara Hurley - 99 (0.2%)
9. Psychedelic Movement, Jason Pilley - 99 (0.2%)
10. Independent, Robert Francis - 98 (0.2%) 

Voters in the previously staunchly Conservative seat of Southend West and Leigh revealed they had voted for Reform after becoming fed up with the Tories.

Locals said they were so dissatisfied with 14 years of Tory rule that they went for Reform, despite warnings that it would make a Labour victory more likely in the Essex constituency.

Labour candidate David Barton-Simpson was victorious in the area, becoming its first non-Conservative MP since a Liberal victory in 1916.

Mr Barton-Simpson polled 16,739 votes, beating sitting Conservative MP Anna Firth into second place with her 14,790 votes, and Reform UK candidate Peter Little coming third with 8,273 votes.

Council worker Jodee Conway, 37, expressed the dissatisfaction of many traditional Tory voters who turned away from the party.

She said: 'I voted Conservative last time, and I was going to vote the same way again because I didn't want Labour to get in. But then I listened to both sides and ended up voting for Reform.

'The manifestos for Conservative and Labour were lacking in clarity, and I got fed up with Rishi and Sir Keir squabbling like kids. It seemed like it was all about them trying to be popular instead of doing what is best for the country.'

Caroline Tidd, 39, who works as a nanny, admitted ignoring messages about tactical voting before she voted for Reform UK to try and call a halt to illegal immigration.

She said: 'I woke up this morning, and heard the news and then I felt, 'Oh dear'.'

Labour declined to field a candidate against Ms Firth when she stood for the Conservatives in 2022 in a gesture of respect for her predecessor Sir David Amess following his murder. But she has now been voted out.

Self-employed plumbing and heating engineer Peter Newbury, who is still working at the age of 85, summed up the despair of many in Leigh-on-Sea when he said: 'I think a lot of people who voted Labour here made a big mistake.

'I have voted Tory since the age of 18. I have never changed and I never will. I was tempted by Reform – but then I realised that a vote for them would damage the Conservatives.

'I never thought I would see this area go to Labour – but now it has. But I am very confident that Labour will mess things up and they will only be here for one term.'

Mother-of-two Suzanne Gray, 62, who has four grandchildren, said: 'I'm not really surprised that Labour got in – but I wouldn't have voted for them if my life depended on it.

'I would have voted Reform, but I knew it would be a wasted vote. I can't bear Keir Starmer. He wants to protect everyone apart from the citizens of this country.'

Ms Gray's old school friend Dawn Stuart, 62, said: 'I voted Reform. I just want change. I want all the silliness in this country to stop.'

 

DARTFORD (REFORM - 21%)

LABOUR GAIN FROM CONSERVATIVE 

1. Labour, Jim Dickson - 15,392 (34.6%)
2. Conservative, Gareth Johnson - 14,200 (31.9%)
3. Reform UK, Lee Stranders - 9,523 (21.4%)
4. Green, Laura Edie - 3,189 (7.2%)
5. Liberal Democrat, Kyle Marsh - 2,184 (4.9%)

The 'Farage effect' which split the Tory vote was the reason two previous safe Parliamentary seats in Kent fell to Labour, according to angry voters.

Many former Tory voters told MailOnline they had become 'disillusioned' with the party and wanted to change.

But despite both Dartford and Gravesham falling to Labour, many voters said it was the appeal of Nigel Farage's Reform UK which was why they switched sides.

A mix of issues including the small boats crisis and cost of living was the reason they said they deserted Rishi Sunak's Conservatives.

Dartford went Labour for the first time in 14 years and Gravesham for 19 years.

Single full-time father Mark Sutherland, 48, voted Reform after many years of voting for Tory.

The Dartford resident of 39 years said: 'It was time for change and something different. The Tory Party had their chance and after 14 years I felt it was time for something else.

'The plan was not to get Labour though. I did not want that to happen.

'But Farage is in, it's absolutely the Farage effect. There are other Reform MPs and in a few years at the next election they will be an even bigger force.

'They have a big chance to make a difference. I voted because they have more about them and want to make a difference for the older generation. They have been neglected I think.

'The NHS is also on its knees. I voted for Boris Johnson previously but I could not vote for Sunak.'

Mark Reynolds, 55, of Gravesend, also voted Reform after being a lifelong Tory.

The builder said: 'I don't think the Tories were putting the country first. British people were being neglected. It had to be the turn of someone else.

'Labour is not the answer. But we have to try and get a change and I think Reform can do well.

'I think Farage could shake up the country for the better. What is happening with the Channel is a disgrace. We have given up. There needs to be a fresh approach.'

Retired builder Michael Wellington, 62, said he voted Reform for the first time as well.

Mr Wellington, who has lived in Dartford for 30 years, said: 'I am not a fan of Farage but it needed to be someone else.

'I don't think much of any of them. I think most of it is a sham. It's a very sad state of affairs.'

Paul Winter, 55, said the small boat crisis was his reason for voting Reform.

The Gravesend electrician said: 'I dread to think how much we have had to pay as taxpayers to fund all of what has been happening in Dover and then what happens after with accommodation.

'We could have put that into policing, or opportunities for young people or the army. The immigration system is a huge joke.'

 

POOLE (REFORM - 17%)

LABOUR GAIN FROM CONSERVATIVE

1. Labour, Neil Duncan-Jordan - 14,168 (31.8%)
2. Conservative, Robert Syms - 14,150 (31.8%)
3. Reform UK, Andrei Dragotoniu - 7,429 (16.7%)
4. Liberal Democrat, Oliver Walters - 5,507 (12.4%)
5. Green, Sarah Ward - 2,218 (5.0%)
6. Independent, Joe Cronin - 698 (1.6%)
7. UK Independence Party, Leanne Barnes - 325 (0.7%)

Voters in the exclusive resort of Sandbanks revealed they had put a cross in the box for Reform, while others praised party leader Nigel Farage despite voting Conservative.

Sandbanks and the neighbouring posh suburb of Canford Cliffs are in the Poole constituency which had returned a Conservative MP going back to 1880.

But yesterday the Labour candidate Neil Jordan defeated long-established Tory Robert Syms, who had served as the MP since 1997, by just 18 votes.

Mr Jordan took 14,168 votes and Mr Syms had 14,150 while the Reform candidate, Andrei Dragotoniu, came in third place with 7,429.

Betty Harland, 84, said: 'I do normally vote Tory but I voted Reform this time because they are useless.

'My son is a surgeon and my grandson is training to be one in London and he can't afford to live on what he earns because Sunak has ignored doctors and they're not earning much more than people serving you coffee.'

Another local resident, who didn't want to be named, said: 'The Tories went too liberal, they weren't Tory anymore.

'I did still vote Tory because I don't think Reform are ready yet but I'm glad Nigel Farage got in, I think he's going to be good in Parliament and tell it like it is.

'I think they will do very well next time, they'll have my vote then.'