Reform UK has announced the appointment of Tom Wellings as their candidate for the constituency of Stone, Great Wyrley, and Penkridge.
Tom Wellings, a native of Penkridge, brings a wealth of local knowledge and experience to his candidacy. Having been born and raised in Penkridge, Wellings has a deep understanding of the issues and concerns facing residents in the area.
His connection to the community is further strengthened by his previous service as a special constable for Staffordshire Police, where he covered the boroughs included in the constituency he now aims to represent.
Wellings’ professional background adds another layer of credibility to his candidacy. As a qualified lawyer, he possesses a keen understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that influence both local and national governance.
In a statement, Wellings expressed his commitment to serving the people of Stone, Great Wyrley, and Penkridge.
“I am honoured to be chosen as the Reform UK candidate for this constituency. My roots in Penkridge and my professional journey have prepared me to address the unique challenges our community faces. I look forward to engaging with residents and working tirelessly to represent their interests”.
Reform UK’s decision to field Wellings is seen as part of their broader strategy to bring fresh, locally-informed perspectives to the political landscape. The party has been vocal about its commitment to reforming various aspects of governance, and Wellings’ background in law and community service aligns with these goals. The constituency of Stone, Great Wyrley, and Penkridge will be closely watched in the upcoming election as both major parties and smaller ones like Reform UK vie for voter support. With Tom Wellings as their candidate, Reform UK is positioning itself as a serious contender in the race, promising a campaign focused on practical solutions and community engagement.
With the snap election now being called, Wellings has only six weeks to get his message out to the community, on this point he stated:
“A July election is a bit sooner than I would’ve liked to have got my name out there and speak with residents. However, I am very fortunate that I’ve lived in the area since birth and know of the issues that we currently face.
My main message to residents is to know you have a choice, whilst the leader of our country is almost a certainty, you have a unique opportunity to vote for someone who will focus on the area and not get caught up with party politics. We must improve how our local councils, roads, medical practices and schools operate, and I will be at the forefront if elected.”
25 comments
TerryJ
Tom Wellings.
Please correct me if I am wrong but I am given to understand that you put in your Nomination Papers on the Wednesday and withdrew them the following day leaving too little time for Reform UK to replace you.
.
I do not know if some sort of deal was done to get you to pull out but if it was done to help Williamson to win then I think that it was done without any intelligent thought behind it.
Now, instead of two candidate with a chance, however small, of beating Williamson the only one of the candidates in with a chance is Labour.
Voting Labour may be unthinkable to many but, as there will be a Labour Government what difference will one extra Labour MP make if it means removing Williamson and showing Tom Wellings what voters think of him.
FOR THE FORST TIME IN OVER 40 YEARS I WILL BE VOTING LABOUR, AS A ONE OFF.
SIMON
People could vote UKIP or SDP (who oppose immigration and are pro Brexit) in that constituency. For God’s sake, anything but Tory.
Simon
What treacherous filth.
See you, my princes and my noble peers, These English monsters..
Linda
What a joke shows any one as a conservative is a snake in the grass you stupid man giving in to a conservative what did they bribe you with
David shillingford
Tom Wellings pulled this trick on purpose.
As a tory voter for 25 years, I will now intentionally give my vote to any party but tory.
Underhand treacherous tactics.
Tom may have pulled out last minute, be he decided this move weeks back.
SIMON
Dave. Both UKIP and the SDP are standing there. Better than LibLabCon.
Alexander Bramham
Correct. UKIP’s paper candidate lives 300 miles away and did not attend any of the four hustings. I did, and was endorsed by Reform’s Deputy Leader at their last rally. A vote for the SDP is a vote for Reform’s policies on immigration and heritage.
Michael Patterson
If you EVER dare to appear on my doorstep to tell me to vote for Williamson, or if I ever see you out and about, you’ll get an earful of invective the like of which you will never have heard before.
You disingenuous charlatan. How dare you deny people the right for the party of their choosing. There was only one party I was ever going to vote for this time around, and you have denied me and others that right.
You’re a disgrace.
Jack
You need to tick another box i.e. Lib Dem to make sure the Conservative ‘shoe in’ does not happen. No party should be allowed to drop a failed politician into their constituency.
As for the former Reform UK candidate, his reputation locally will always be questioned, I fear.
Pat gallagher
Wow tom wellings what a cowardly thing to do hope gavin (lucifer) williams
Made it worth your time.
Suggest all reform voters do likewise and switch to vote for jacquie brown
Labour. Ridding us of these charlatans.
Michael Patterson
No chance. If there’s no Reform candidate then there’s no alternative to to the discredited “major parties”, whatever the Labour trolls try to tell us.
SIMON
Ukip or SDP.
Alexander Bramham
UKIP’s paper candidate lives 300 miles away and did not attend any of the four hustings. I did, and was endorsed by Reform’s Deputy Leader at their last rally. A vote for the SDP is a vote for Reform’s policies on immigration and heritage.
Keith
You’re a disgrace to democracy – and you have literally robbed thousands of voters of the chance to vote for Reform!
Appalling!
Mike Kiely
You’re right. Even if he had only been a paper candidate, he would have had thousands of people giving him a pat on the back. Now those thousands of people are going to hate him. He now has to face people in his home town knowing that people think of him as lower than low.
Christopher Lawton
You are a JOKE Tom Wellings – an absolute JOKE!
Mike Kiely
Snake in the grass
Judas Iscariot
Lowest of the low…. still… voters can hold their nose and vote Labour… that DOUBLES the effect!
Michael Patterson
You must think we’re idiots. I’d rather stick pins in my eyes than vote Labour.
Janet Sivorn
Why have you withdrawn?
George laybourne
I have voted the last three times Conservative. The thing that I feel needs to help the growing retired pensioners in stone is the personal allowance.Mr Hunt knew that with the recent pay rise without putting up the allowance would mean pensioners would pay most of it in tax.
So we were paying tax as normal on our state pension and further tax if you went over the £12,750 . Can I ask what Reform will do to adress this. I and my wife will vote reform this election. Thank you
Simon
I suggest, Mr. Laybourne, that now Mr. Wellings has shown his true colours, that you put yourself forwards.
Michael Patterson
The problem is that he can’t put himself forward, it’s too late, and the conniving b*stard Wellings knew that when he withdraw.
Tom Anderson
I read with interest your wish to stand as a reform candidate in the election. But why are you sending a negative message in your words ( the leader of the country is almost a certainty ) Shurely if you believe in Reform it is not a certainty. We overturned the perception of the Brexit outcome and the people can do it again if we all vote Reform.
Simon
Well done Mr Anderson, it looks like you were on to him before everybody else.