Mark Shooter on why he left the Conservatives to become Barnet’s first Reform councillor

Barnet Council's first Reform UK councillor Mark Shooter, pictured with assembly member Alex Wilson — Mark Shooter (right) with Reform’s London Assembly member Alex Wilson

For 15 years, I have had the privilege of serving as a councillor for Barnet. It has been an incredible journey, but I have now taken a bold step—a step guided by my principles, not political convenience. I have joined Reform UK because their vision aligns with my core beliefs, and I am committed to delivering real change for the people of Barnet.

Leaving the Conservatives was not an easy decision. They supported me, granting me the honour of serving as mayor and chairing the pensions committee for over a decade. However, I could no longer ignore the fact that the current system offers voters little more than a choice between bad and worse.

Reform UK presents a genuine alternative, one that challenges the status quo and offers solutions that truly benefit hardworking citizens. Sometimes, taking a risk is necessary to do what is right.

I became disillusioned with the political “uniparty” and found myself frustrated by ever-growing government bureaucracy, excessive regulations, wokeness, and policies that unfairly burden working people. Politics should be about serving the people, not the other way round, and we have seen a relentless increase in the size of the state.

Throughout my tenure as a councillor, I have witnessed policies I was frankly embarrassed by. Over time, local government has gradually eroded personal freedoms without many even noticing. It is time to push back against these creeping constraints and restore common sense to governance.

Since making the switch, I have been pleasantly surprised by the reception from many of my residents and some councillors – possibly hedging their bets – and, given the mountain of defections we expect, the party has even set up a “defections hotline”.

Reform UK is gaining momentum, and I am confident that we will continue to grow in London and Barnet. People are waking up to the past betrayals, particularly the economic mismanagement in Barnet. For example, the Conservatives’ disastrous outsourcing programme cost taxpayers tens of millions, leaving us with a financial mess we are still paying for today and with poorer services. Their 2022 budget predicted a staggering £55million shortfall by 2025—a burden they handed over to Labour which has materialised. To make matters worse, we have yet to see the 2022 accounts because they are still awaiting auditor approval so we are unable to see the true picture when they left office.

Our recent performance in the Burnt Oak by-election was a strong indicator of our growing support—we secured 18.4% of the vote, nearly double our general election result, and well above the London average. Our party membership in Barnet increased by 20% in the last month alone and we are one of the largest associations in the country with overall party membership now at 208,000 and climbing.

This is just the beginning of my journey with Reform UK. I am determined to grow our movement in Barnet and beyond, standing up for those who feel let down by the uniparty. I firmly believe that voters will soon recognise our dedication and reward us for fighting on their behalf. The road ahead may be challenging, but I am confident that we are on the right path—one that leads to a brighter and turquoise future for Barnet and the country as a whole.

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