Former Mayor Andy Street Returns to Politics with New Centre-Right Movement
Former West Midlands Mayor Andy Street has launched a significant political initiative called Prosper UK, targeting what he describes as "politically homeless" voters while strongly criticizing the divisive nature of Nigel Farage's Reform UK. This development comes at a crucial moment as Birmingham prepares for all-out city council elections in May, where the Conservative Party faces direct competition from Reform on the right flank.
Prosper UK Aims to Revive Moderate Centre-Right Politics
Andy Street, who served as Conservative Mayor of the West Midlands for seven years before losing to Labour's Richard Parker in 2024, has partnered with prominent Tory figures including Ruth Davidson and former home secretary Amber Rudd to establish Prosper UK. The movement explicitly seeks to represent the "more moderate centre right" that Street argues has been "eclipsed" in recent political discourse.
"Part of Prosper is about listening," Street emphasized during his Birmingham visit. "We want to listen to businesses and members of the public here in Birmingham to help us shape our ideas going forwards. For the UK to thrive, a place like this has to thrive."
Street's Strong Critique of Reform UK's Approach
The former mayor delivered a pointed assessment of Reform UK's political strategy, stating unequivocally that their potential success in Birmingham would represent "bad news" for the city. Street criticized what he characterized as Reform's failure to deliver on promises in areas where they have gained power.
"Everywhere they have got into power around the country, Reform have let people down," Street told the Local Democracy Reporting Service. "They've said they can deal with council tax, they've said they can improve services – it is demonstrably untrue, just look at Worcestershire as the best example of that."
Street further argued that Reform's approach fundamentally lacks substantive solutions: "The more general point about the populists is actually they don't come with answers. They come by sort of exploiting the problems – we can all identify the problems, that's not the hard thing to do. The hard thing to do is the really difficult stuff around solutions, which I tried to do as Mayor. Reform do not do that."
Birmingham's Critical Election Context
The political landscape in Birmingham has become increasingly complex as all 101 seats on the Labour-run city council will be contested in May's elections. The Conservative Party, currently the second largest party in the local authority, hopes to gain control despite facing opposition from Reform UK on their right flank.
Street expressed confidence in the Conservative opposition's prospects, praising Birmingham Conservative councillor Robert Alden's leadership: "The Conservative opposition in Birmingham has been very traditional, common sense, sensible – you might call it mainstream Conservative and what is being offered is a very practical agenda."
Regarding Reform's ambitions in Birmingham, Street remained skeptical: "Reform will challenge but I think the talk that Farage has put forward about really competing in Birmingham is for the birds. I do not believe that will be the case and the simple message is – if you want an end to the Labour regime, it is the established Conservative opposition under Robert Alden that has to be the route."
The Dual Motivations Behind Street's Political Return
Street revealed that two primary factors motivated his return to active political engagement through Prosper UK. First, he expressed disappointment with the Labour government's performance since their 2024 victory. Second, he identified the "rise of Nigel Farage and Reform" as creating a political vacuum on the moderate right.
"I thought the Labour government would be competent and moral and I hoped over time my party would return to the centre ground to challenge them," Street explained. "What really happened over the next year is that wasn't how it went. Labour had been disappointing and at the same time on the right, there was the rise of Nigel Farage and Reform."
This combination of factors led Street to conclude that "somebody needs to step forward to fight for the more moderate centre right." Research conducted with More in Common indicated that "there was a very large number of people who were politically homeless," further validating the need for such an initiative.
Amber Rudd Joins the Movement with Economic Focus
Former home secretary Amber Rudd, serving as Prosper UK's vice-chair, emphasized the movement's economic priorities during the Birmingham visit. Rudd argued that current political discourse lacks adequate focus on business and enterprise.
"I was irresistibly drawn back into doing this with Andy Street and other colleagues because we can't stand by and see what we think is the most important element of strengthening the economy ignored," Rudd stated. "You hear the polarised voices because that's kind of what social media does - it tells you who is angry with who and what's the latest outrageous thing that Nigel Farage has said. But there are millions of people in the country feeling politically alienated."
Rudd clarified Prosper UK's operational approach: "We're not a thinktank - we're a force in order to try and influence policy choices that will help to deliver on growth."
Birmingham's Political Crossroads
As Birmingham approaches its critical May elections, the city finds itself at a political crossroads. Labour council leader John Cotton has defended his party's record despite recent challenges, stating: "Tough decisions have had to be made. But Labour is investing in Birmingham's renewal and fixing the foundations."
Meanwhile, Reform UK has previously insisted that it aims to represent people of all backgrounds and faiths, countering accusations of divisive politics. The stage is now set for a multifaceted political contest that will test Street's new movement, the Conservative Party's traditional appeal, Reform's growing influence, and Labour's ability to maintain control of Britain's second city.
