Hertford and Stortford Conservatives leader Nathan Parsad-Wyatt says Kemi Badenoch heralds ‘fresh start and bold vision’ for party

The chairman of Hertford & Stortford Conservatives, Sawbridgeworth town councillor Nathan Parsad-Wyatt, looks to the future with new party leader Kemi Badenoch and reflects on lessons learned from the past - including his association’s choice of parliamentary candidate.

This summer’s General Election was a wake-up call for us Conservatives, and locally we’ve heard it loud and clear, especially in the wake of last year’s district council results too.

As a party, we let you down. We fell short of what you rightly expected from us, and for that we are sorry.

Our community deserves real commitment and dedication from us. Not just during campaigns, but every single day.

We are starting work to rebuild that trust – step by step, conversation by conversation, street by street, door by door, because Hertford and Stortford needs strong, visible representation at all levels.

In August, I was honoured to be elected chairman of Hertford & Stortford Conservative Association, alongside a new team of officers.

Our team is focused on two key priorities: growing our membership and securing electoral successes as part of a wider effort to challenge the Green and Liberal Democrat coalition at East Herts Council and the recently elected Labour MP.

In September, we took our first step on that second priority by fighting hard to win two by-elections in Hertford. While encouraging, this is just the start of our journey to restore trust with voters.

Some of those voters in Hertford backed us because they have already seen Labour breaking its promises.

They pledged 50 times during the election not to raise taxes, only to raise them by a record £40 billion after taking office, all while cutting Winter Fuel Payment for those with incomes as low as £13,000.

But we can’t rely on Labour continuing to make mistakes, we have to offer our own vision for the future; but first, and crucially, we must take our share of responsibility for where we are today.

We fell short, we lost your trust and we drifted from the standards and values you rightly expect of us. That’s on us. We’re sorry. We won’t let it happen again.

Our party now has a new leader in Westminster, neighbouring North West Essex MP Kemi Badenoch.

Kemi brings a fresh start and a bold vision for the future of our party and our country. She’s unafraid to speak the truth about where we’ve gone wrong and where we need to go, grounding her leadership in values we can all stand behind: aspiration, freedom, family, personal responsibility, equality under the law, free markets and controlled borders.

Kemi’s vision isn’t just about her, it’s about building a team that embodies these principles. As she put it: “We must be honest about the fact that we made mistakes and let standards slip. The time has come to tell the truth, to stand up for our principles, to plan for our future, to reset our politics and our thinking, and to give our party and our country the new start that they deserve. It is time to renew.”

Her mission is clear: to rebuild and renew the Conservative party, restoring us to a place where we can make a real difference in people’s lives.

Locally, we’re committed to playing our part by ensuring that our representatives are truly connected to Hertford and Stortford. We know we haven’t always got this right and we’ve heard your calls for local commitment and presence.

While selecting our next parliamentary candidate is a way off, we’re not waiting to make a difference.

Next year’s county council elections and the East Herts Council elections in 2027 give us a chance to demonstrate what we stand for and to reconnect with our communities.

This is our opportunity to rebuild locally and to show that the Conservative party is here, rooted in your needs and committed to serving you every day.

Former Harlow MP Robert Halfon was right when he said that Conservatives need to focus on restoring trust and offering a positive, genuine vision for the people we serve. We’re taking that message to heart.

Our vision is simple: a strong economy, robust defence, secure borders and a commitment to delivering world-class public services without burdening people with excessive taxes.

Nationally, we believe in a Government that does what’s necessary – and does it well – rather than over-extending and under-performing. Locally, that means building a community where businesses can thrive, families feel supported and public safety is a priority.

We’re working towards a society that rewards hard work, values families and a community – and a country – at ease with itself.

When the Conservative party is true to itself, it is a force for good. We’re here to champion ambition, offer real solutions to everyday problems and support everyone who wants to improve their life and their community.

Here in Hertford and Stortford, we’re getting back to basics and focusing on what we know works: hard work, clear principles and respect for the people we serve.

If you share our vision for a better future, we invite you to join us. Political parties don’t exist without people who share their values, and we need you to help shape this new beginning with us.

Yes, we lost votes to Labour, Reform and the Liberal Democrats, and we need to understand why.

To win back your support, we’re committed to putting things right, setting out a positive vision and restoring trust.

The time for a fresh start is now, and we’re all in. We’re determined to serve Hertford and Stortford with honesty, care and renewed purpose. We won’t let you down.