Kemi Badenoch pledged reduced taxes and improved services through Conservative council administrations when she unveiled the party’s local election campaign today, criticizing Nigel Farage 's Reform UK.

Mrs Badenoch acknowledged that the Tories were probably going to lose seats on May 1, after winning many of them when the Tories were most popular in 2021.

In her address at Buckinghamshire, she cautioned that Reform, which has high hopes of capturing numerous Conservative Party seats, about their politicians' lack of experience in managing anything substantial.

When asked about the ideological differences between the Tories and Mr. Farage's Reform UK, Mrs. Badenoch responded to reporters saying, "We don’t merely issue statements; we have a comprehensive strategy."

She stated: "This isn't show business. It's not a game. It's about peoples' lives..."

'Sometimes individuals cast their votes for protest parties, however, my point is that ultimately, you must deal with the consequences of your voting choices.'

However, her primary assault was aimed at Labour 'S track record in local governance, emphasizing a continuing bin strike in problematic areas Birmingham And informing the crowd, "Choose Labour, end up with rubbish."

Nevertheless, Mr. Farage countered, stating: "Kemi's latest slogan is quite humorous. The Conservatives' history in local governance is marked by increased taxation and deteriorating public services."

'Despite decades of poor governance, local governments controlled by Conservative parties nationwide are now struggling under the strain.'

Residents in multiple county councils and unitary authorities throughout England will head to the voting booths on May 1, marking the initial significant electoral assessment since the previous year's elections held last July.

The elections in nine regions have been pushed back by one year due to the restructuring of local governance in England.

It was reported in February that the implementation has been delayed until 2026 for East Sussex, West Sussex, Essex, Thurrock, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Surrey.

Following the publication of a white paper in December that eliminated two-tier local government districts, this decision was made.

Mrs Badenoch cautioned that under recent electoral trends, the Conservatives would not retain a single council seat they gained in 2021 if the previous year’s general election outcomes were applied to the upcoming local elections.

The Tory leader stated: "This year will be different. For the first time since the general election – which marked the biggest loss in our party's history – we will contest these seats."

'If you map that general election result of 2024 onto this coming May, then we don't win the councils we won in 2021, we lose almost every single one.'

Although she mentioned that the party might "perform somewhat better," Mrs. Badenoch acknowledged that "these elections will undoubtedly be very challenging."

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