Damian O'Connor

I want to address an allegation directly, because Reform politicians seem determined to spread the idea that I am somehow working in coordination with the Conservative Party and Kemi Badenoch. Yes, I was a member of the Conservative Party. In 1993. My children have since been born and grown up. It was more than thirty years ago. Literally, a lifetime ago. Many of the Reform leadership certainly can’t say the same. Yes, I've met Kemi Badenoch. I speak to her occasionally. I like her personally. We have worked together in Parliament. She spoke positively about our rape gang inquiry, and I thanked her for it. Numerous Conservative MPs have supported my parliamentary work, including our inquiry. Esther McVey. Nick Timothy. Jack Rankin. Peter Bedford. I could go on. I am not going to apologise for that. I will work with anyone in Parliament who is prepared to help deliver meaningful change. We have achieved results by doing precisely that. Does that mean I forgive the Conservatives for what they did to Britain between 2010 and 2024? Absolutely not. It was a betrayal. I have literally established a national political party to fight them at the ballot box. I am delighted when we beat them, which is a growing amount. All that should be a fairly substantial clue… But opposing a political party does not require you to behave like a petulant child towards every single person associated with it. Conservative MPs believed I would do a good job on the Public Accounts Committee. I accepted the opportunity to scrutinise government spending and fight for British taxpayers. Again, absolutely no apologies. I think we have delivered results. Now let's compare that with Reform. Reform tried to have me imprisoned over false allegations. I would be in prison today if they had their way. Despite everything, I have repeatedly attempted to work with Reform MPs in Parliament. I have invited them to support initiatives, collaborate on important issues and help deliver results. Time and again, those invitations have been ignored. My emails don’t even get a reply. I happily sign their motions and support their efforts, I did earlier this week. The feeling is not mutual. They complain. They moan. They attack. They endlessly manufacture personal grievances. But ask them to put their animosities aside and actually achieve something together? Suddenly, it's total silence. I've received more constructive support in Parliament from Labour MPs than from Reform. Think about that. It is grievance politics at its most pathetic. Negative, unproductive and deeply unprofessional. My position is incredibly straightforward. At elections, we are opponents. In Parliament, we have a responsibility to get things done. I believe that is what our constituents want us to do. Maybe I’m wrong, but I think not. Reform claim we stand in more local council Reform seats than anyone else. Yes, because so many more Reform councillors resign in disgrace than any other party. We are moving towards standing in 100% of local council by-elections. We’ve stood in Reform seats, Labour seats, Tory seats. Everywhere and anywhere. I intend to fight both Reform and the Conservatives for every vote. I want Restore Britain to win over millions of people who previously voted for those parties. But that does not mean I have to insult everyone I disagree with, refuse to speak to political opponents or sabotage decent initiatives because somebody else might receive a little credit. I was elected to represent my constituents, not to participate in an endless Westminster playground feud. Do I like Kemi Badenoch and some other Conservative MPs personally? Yes. Will I work with them when it benefits the British people? Yes. Do I fundamentally oppose the Conservative Party's record and want Restore Britain to defeat them electorally? Yes. Their 14 years of power was an utter betrayal, and is largely responsible for the social, economic and demographic vandalism we have endured. All three things can be true. Any serious adult should be capable of understanding that. It is not difficult to comprehend. I will work with Conservatives. I will work with Labour. I will work with Reform, if they ever decide to behave constructively. Reform's increasingly nasty, brash and personally unpleasant approach to politics says far more about them than it does about me. It’s just downright rude. They seem to believe that refusing to work with anyone is a demonstration of strength. In my view, it’s a weakness that erodes our politics and fails our constituents. I have said it again and again. I will work with anyone in parliament to deliver for the British people. And I make no apologies for doing so.