Rupert Matthews Defects to Reform UK, Citing ‘Dark Heart of Wokeness’ in Justice System

Rupert Matthews, the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Leicestershire and Rutland, has made a high-profile defection from the Conservative Party to Reform UK, marking the party’s first ever PCC. Announced on August 4, 2025, at a press conference with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, Matthews’s move underscores deep frustrations among law enforcement ranks about Britain’s criminal justice and policing policies.

Matthews, known for his long Conservative affiliation stretching over four decades, also carries a public profile as an author of books on paranormal topics, including ghosts, UFOs, and cryptozoology. Despite his unconventional interests, his political message has struck a serious tone focused on reversing what he terms the “dark heart of wokeness” embedded in Britain’s justice system.

Matthews: Fighting Crime With ‘One Hand Tied Behind Our Back’

During the media event at Reform UK’s Westminster headquarters, Matthews painted a grim picture of law and order in Leicestershire and Rutland. Observing the daily battle against crime, he told reporters:

“I see ordinary, hard-working people burgled, robbed and mugged. Shoplifting is getting out of control. Anti-social behaviour is turning too many of our town centres into an apocalyptic wasteland of lawless Britain.”

Matthews criticized current policing approaches, lamenting that officers are working “with one hand tied behind their back.” He singled out the national police race action plan aimed at anti-racism as an “abomination” and an example of what he described as “two-tier policing.”

Further, he called for the immediate deportation of foreign criminals upon conviction, arguing that keeping them in prisons at taxpayers’ expense is unsustainable.

Political Accusations and Critique of ‘Elite’ Failings

Matthews launched a broader attack on the British political establishment, accusing politicians of imitating “failed states” like Lebanon and Libya through policies that have, in his view, fostered societal breakdown. He said:

“It’s almost as if they’ve looked at countries like Lebanon and Libya, the policies that have led to them becoming failed states, and thought ‘that looks good, let’s try that here in Britain.’”

Blaming both Conservative and Labour governments for repeated failures, Matthews condemned the “self-serving, self-entitled liberal elite” who “have let this country down time after time.”

He concluded emphatically:

“Enough. Now is time for Reform.”

Reform UK’s New Law and Order Taskforce: Adding Experience

Alongside Matthews’s defection, Reform UK welcomed Vanessa Frake-Harris MBE, a retired governor of Wormwood Scrubs prison. Frake-Harris’s extensive career since 1986 in the prison service informs her critique of England’s prison crisis. She detailed rising escapes, attacks on officers, and an increase in drugs, weapons, and mobile phones entering prisons over the past year.

Frake-Harris blamed successive governments of both major parties for driving the prison service “to its knees” through chronic underinvestment and failure to empower experienced personnel. She sharply criticized early prisoner releases, stating:

“They have let out 10,000 prisoners out of jail early. To let criminals out of jail before they even serve their full sentence is a disgrace.”

Her addition to Reform UK’s law and order taskforce signals the party’s deeper commitment to a “tough on crime” platform.

Reactions From Across the Political Spectrum

The defection has prompted notable reactions, often mixing skepticism and criticism:

• The prime minister’s press secretary mocked the move, saying Matthews’s expertise in the paranormal matches Reform UK’s “fiscal plans” in their “interest in the fantastical and the unexplained.”
• A Labour source criticized Matthews for his alien conspiracy views and said his party’s stance on removing abortion rights overseas was bizarrely celebrated by Matthews as a “triumph” for democracy.
• A Labour spokesperson labeled Reform UK “farcical,” accusing Nigel Farage’s party of lacking clarity on policy costs and practical solutions to challenges facing ordinary workers.
• Nigel Farage himself welcomed Matthews warmly, calling him a “great man” and celebrating the candidate’s commitment as Reform UK’s first PCC, underscoring the party’s growing momentum in law and order issues.

Context: Matthews’s Political and Professional Background

Rupert Matthews was first elected PCC for Leicestershire and Rutland in 2021 and narrowly re-elected in May 2024, defeating Labour’s Rory Palmer by just 860 votes. Prior to his local political career, Matthews served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the East Midlands from 2017 to 2019, representing the Conservative Party.

Notoriously, Matthews has published several books exploring ghost sightings, UFO phenomena, and cryptozoology—an area regarded by many as pseudoscience. His defection to Reform UK adds a unique public figure to the party’s ranks and intertwines his unconventional personal interests with hardline law and order political messaging.

Reform UK’s Law and Order Strategy and Future Prospects

Reform UK’s recruitment of figures like Matthews and Frake-Harris reflects its emphasis on restoring “law and order” in the UK, presenting sharply critical views of existing justice policies and institutions. By spotlighting alleged government failures that have enabled rising crime and disorder, the party aims to capitalize on public concerns and dissatisfaction, particularly in regions like Leicestershire where Matthews holds significant local influence.

As Reform UK expands its footprint in national and local politics, Matthews’s defection and public profile may contribute to broader efforts to consolidate support among voters prioritizing crime reduction and tougher policing reforms.

Rupert Matthews’s defection from the Conservative Party to Reform UK represents a distinctive moment in UK politics, blending Matthews’s long-standing conservative credentials, unique paranormal interests, and sharp critique of contemporary criminal justice policy. His embrace of Reform UK’s platform and Farage’s leadership underscores growing political realignment around law and order issues—a theme likely to shape public debate ahead of forthcoming elections.

With the addition of Vanessa Frake-Harris, Reform UK positions itself as a vocal alternative advocating for criminal justice overhaul, appealing to voters frustrated with current government policies. While the move has drawn ridicule and opposition criticism, it also reports a recalibration within UK politics around policing, public safety, and governance—areas that continue to dominate public concern.