We cannot assume this is rock bottom; we could face further pain at the next General Election and council elections along the way. Our fate is in the hands of our Conservative parliamentary party but it must be in a grown up and respectful partnership with the voluntary party.

Reform was not responsible for Conservative losses – Conservatives were. Voters used their votes to remove Conservatives from government. Voters were sacking us. We no longer represented the views of the right leaning public.

Reform took 5 seats from the Conservatives. The LibDems gained 63. There are now no safe seats. But equally, this can change quickly.

The digital world has overshadowed the influence of newspapers and TV. It seems the Conservatives fought an analogue campaign on digital platforms. Labour and Respect produced content that was witty and targeted. The Conservatives did not.

Tactical voting creates interesting and unpredictable outcomes. If this continues we might as well move to a proportional representative system. PR leads to greater compromise, between parties, as they find it much harder to gain overall control but means every vote counts. PR historically is not popular within the Conservative Party.

The Conservative Party is only successful when it is a broad collection of the centre-right. We join together to promote enterprise and individual freedom within the rule of law. We have failed to remain true to these principles. Reform have picked up this baton.

We must listen to the wisdom of the people. Local councillors tend to be in tune with local people, those that aspire to be an MP less so (Nick Timothy in West Suffolk a welcome exception) . We must adopt a PPC in every target seat as soon as possible to coordinate that engagement.

Conservatives must, without reservation, set their moral compass in the direction of public service, obligation and duty firmly based on the Nolan Principles of Public Life (selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership)

The rot started with Cameron who stormed off in a huff when he lost Brexit. He upset many core voters with peripheral woke policies rather than focusing on core Conservatives values.

Theresa May approached Brexit as a damage limitation exercise rather than an opportunity and tried her best not to see Brexit through. Broken promises and lack of respect for democracy and the ordinary folk who voted was a fatal blow.

People expected migrant numbers to be controlled. Conservatives failed to deliver on this policy.

There has been a catastrophic loss of focus on Conservative values; economic competence, low taxation, law and order, defence and personal responsibility. Chasing woke has not worked.

The centre left ground is crowded yet some thought it would be good to move the party into this crowed space rather than staying to the right of Center. This has resulted in Reform filling the void.

However we do it, we must unite on the right if we are to avoid the perpetual damp blanket of socialism.