Tom Drummond: We want Sutton to be a place where people are proud to live

Cllr Tom Drummond is the Leader of the Conservative Group on Sutton Council.

As Conservative Opposition Leader in the leafy outer London borough of Sutton, I’ve spent years engaging with our communities and writing about our local political landscape. Sutton is a borough of contrasts, one that voted for Brexit but has been run by the Liberal Democrats since 1986. It is home to vibrant diverse communities, including significant Tamil and Hong Kong populations, while still retaining a close-knit village-like feel. That contrast deserves leadership that respects local identity and delivers for every resident.

Over recent election cycles, Sutton’s political landscape has become increasingly competitive. The once dominant Liberal Democrat majority has steadily eroded. In 2018, the Conservatives gained 10 seats. Then, in 2022, against national headwinds, we took a seat directly from the Lib Dems and came within touching distance of winning the council. In one ward, we lost by just 18 votes.

Since then, several by-elections have taken place. Most notably, we gained a seat from Labour in St Helier West. It was more than symbolic — it was a sign that residents across the borough were looking for something different. They wanted action, not excuses.

By early 2024, the road to victory in the 2026 council elections looked promising. Local frustration with the Liberal Democrat administration was growing, and the desire for change was stronger than ever. But, as in many parts of the country, the rise of Reform UK brought a complication.

Reform UK’s impact hasn’t been as dramatic as some feared. In two recent by-elections, both triggered by Lib Dem resignations, Conservatives outperformed Reform, coming second. But it would be wrong to pretend they didn’t draw votes. That effect was most damaging in the 2024 General Election, where their 12% share split the anti-Lib Dem vote and handed Sutton and Cheam to the Lib Dems with a majority of 3,801.

These results have breathed new life into the local Liberal Democrat operation. A council many expected them to lose feels within reach again. That’s why we must work to earn residents’ trust.

I was once told, “The Liberal Democrats are at their most dangerous when they do nothing.” And they have done very little. In their previous term, they pushed an ideological agenda, closing roads, imposing unpopular parking restrictions, and hiking car park charges. This term has been defined by drift. There’s no leadership, no ambition, just quiet decline.

However, the one thing many residents have noticed is the Liberal Democrats’ relentless push to turn every available building into housing, with little thought for the infrastructure needed to support it. Growth without infrastructure is not progress, it’s pressure – and Sutton is feeling it.

Other changes, such as those to adult social care, have slipped under the radar for many residents, but their impact on the most vulnerable has been severe. True to form, the administration side-steps accountability, shifting blame rather than accepting responsibility. That isn’t leadership, it’s evasion.

Sutton deserves better. And we, as Conservatives, must be ready with a serious principled alternative based on competence, responsibility, and local pride. One that gets the basics right: clean streets, reliable services, support for families and small businesses.

The most important shift under a Conservative-run council would be a total change in accountability. We will take responsibility for the decisions we make, no hiding behind officers, no blaming others. Just honest, transparent leadership.

Being a councillor is a privilege. We are elected to serve, not to posture. That means standing by the choices we make, even when they’re difficult. I believe that sense of duty has been missing under the current administration.

But accountability alone isn’t enough. We also need a vision. Too many residents tell me they don’t know what Sutton stands for. And that says everything about the state of leadership.

We want to give Sutton a renewed sense of purpose grounded in shared values. A place where hard work is rewarded, communities are supported, and people are proud to live. That’s what a Conservative council will deliver.

We know the road ahead won’t be easy. Many voters are disillusioned. Others confuse local decisions with national issues. But that’s why we must knock on every door, have honest conversations, and explain what this election is really about. It’s not about protest votes. It’s not about national headlines. It’s about who sets your council tax, who maintains your services, who ensures bins are collected and streets are clean. It’s about real, everyday life.

In 2026, residents will have the chance to choose either a tired, out-of-touch administration that’s long since run out of ideas, or a Conservative council with a clear, credible plan to improve life across the borough.

We understand some voters may feel tempted to support smaller parties out of frustration. But in Sutton, every vote matters. A vote for any party other than the Conservatives helps keep the Liberal Democrats in control.

If residents want change, they must vote for it. In Sutton, that means voting Conservative in 2026.

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