Following the recent local elections, the former leader of Wokingham Borough Council, Clive Jones, announced in May that he would step down to focus on his campaign to become the next Wokingham Member of Parliament. I sat down with Clive Jones to discuss his previous role and his plans for the upcoming campaign.
Reflecting on the “outstanding” victory in the local elections, Jones expressed his satisfaction, stating, “We successfully retained the eight seats we won four years ago, and it was truly gratifying to not only hold on to those seats but also make three additional gains. This achievement positioned us as the largest party on the council, with 26 seats for the Liberal Democrats compared to the Conservatives’ 22.”
Jones added, “This means we are once again running the council for the second consecutive year, which is excellent news. Over the past four months, since Christmas, many residents have commended our performance when we spoke to them on their doorsteps. Increasingly, they expressed their desire for me to represent them as the MP. Their overwhelming support greatly influenced my decision.”
Jones highlighted the Liberal Democrats’ success in balancing the council’s books, which had been in a deficit when they took over from the Conservatives. He explained, “We achieved this by implementing measures such as delaying recruitment, securing better deals with suppliers, and optimizing our contracts.”
As for his path to becoming the next MP, Jones emphasized the need to garner voter support by ensuring that residents are familiar with the Liberal Democrats’ principles and have confidence in him as a full-time representative. He stated, “I must convince people to vote for me in the general election by making sure I am known to all residents. They need to understand what the Liberal Democrats stand for and be assured that their elected MP will be fully dedicated to their concerns. I will prioritize serving the residents of Wokingham at all times.”
Having served as a councillor since 2016, Jones acknowledged the challenges of juggling the responsibilities of running the council and being an effective candidate. He remarked, “It has been an incredibly fulfilling year leading the council, but it is a full-time job. Similarly, being an effective candidate demands a significant commitment. It is challenging to perform both roles simultaneously, and many people are unaware of the immense workload councillors undertake.”
When asked about the relationship between the local MP and Wokingham Borough Council, Jones noted that a close working relationship prevails when things run smoothly. He mentioned his successful collaboration with Stephen Conway, the current deputy leader, during his time as council leader and expressed optimism for its continuation.
Regarding the national trend and its reflection locally, with increased support for the Liberal Democrats, Jones mentioned three successful by-elections in which they overturned significant Conservative majorities. He explained, “While specific local issues played a role in our victories, the prevailing sentiment expressed by constituents when we engaged with them is their disillusionment with the Conservatives’ performance since 2019. People feel that the Conservatives have not been transparent with the electorate.”
Jones further criticized Boris Johnson’s lack of candour as prime minister and pointed out that other Conservatives have followed suit. He mentioned Liz Truss’s short tenure as an example, which ended with her removal by her own party. In terms of Rishi Sunak, Jones believed he may be marginally better than Johnson and Truss but doubted that he would bring significant change.
Regarding predictions of a Labour victory in the general election, Jones believed that the local landscape in Wokingham tells a different story. He remarked, “Nationally, opinion polls may suggest that, but locally it’s a different scenario. I understand that people may vote differently in local elections