Lost his Conservative seat after 10 years in Billing ward
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00:00James Hill, Conservative Party, just lost your seat in the Binning Ward, you've been there for 10 years. Tell us how you're feeling.
00:09Obviously very disappointed. It's a community that I absolutely love and have put a lot into, but ultimately today it wasn't with us.
00:17I knew when I saw the results coming in and the way that reform were just making gains, it was going to be very, very tough.
00:22I've thrown everything into this election, but ultimately the electorate have made their decision.
00:27We've got two reform councillors, actually seem like quite good people. I'm going to do a hand over them, go for a drink with them.
00:33But yeah, everything comes to an end eventually and that's where we are today.
00:38Is it a shock?
00:40Yes and no. I knew reform were going to do very well in Northampton, just by what I was hearing.
00:45But you sort of hope your personal vote and what you've done will count.
00:49And I think it did to an extent. I came close, but it just wasn't quite enough in the end.
00:55And look, it looks like reform are going to control, potentially control West North France now.
00:59And then it's going to be interesting to see if they can do some of the things they've promised.
01:02Because trust me, as someone who's been a local councillor for 10 years, it's not always easy saying things and getting them done as you might think.
01:10Why do you think people have voted for reform in your wall?
01:13People want change. People are absolutely completely disenfranchised with the two political parties.
01:18That's Labour and Conservative. And I understand that feeling because I feel it as well.
01:22I've been quite frankly disappointed with a lot of my party over a few years.
01:25I've been quite famously calling them out on things when people have stayed silent.
01:29But ultimately, people want to send a message and it doesn't matter whether it's local or national.
01:34I think this election was actually fought on national issues, believe it or not.
01:38This is a way for people to vent their anger, send a message to Downing Street, send a message to the Conservative Party that we have not been happy with you and you've let us down.
01:45And that's what it is today. And reform have galvanised that vote. They've brought it in.
01:50And, you know, I hope they can do what they say they can do. I think there's a lot of holes in what they're saying.
01:55But, you know, if they could turn this country around and that'd be fantastic, you know, for me.