Conservatives 'fighting to come back' in Hull
Frankie WilliamsA Conservative Party chairman says they are not expecting to "storm" the local election in Hull but says the Tories will make every attempt to return to the council.
Frankie Williams, chairman of the Hull and Cottingham Conservatives, acknowledged his party faces a steep challenge to regain representation, saying they would have to "fight for a different future of hope".
The Conservatives have not held a seat on Hull City Council since 2022 when they lost their single place to Labour.
A third of Hull City Council's 57 seats, of which the majority is controlled by the Liberal Democrats, will be contested when voters head to the polls on 7 May.
The 21-year-old University of Hull student, who is standing for the Sutton ward, is focused on modest progress rather than immediate victories.
"I'm realistic. I'm not going to claim we'll come out of nowhere and storm every single seat," he said.
"That's unhelpful. But we're putting the work in and we're just trying. The thing I found most important is being out there, being visible. Having people feel like we're an option.
"It's about showing that you're there all year around, making yourself available to people and trying to at least be present."
He explained how success for him would be simply increasing the number of votes his party receives, rather than immediately winning seats.
Williams, who is one of the youngest candidates standing in the city, said the party had returned from defeats before and described the current position as "another starting point".
"Just because we haven't got council seats doesn't mean we've lost forever," he said.
"It just shows there's more work to do."
Asked whether Reform or the Green Party threatened the Conservatives' chances of winning a seat, Williams said he believed the rise of smaller parties meant more choice for voters, with the competition being "good for democracy".
"People are angry, upset, they have different things that they feel need addressing and each party has something to offer, which resonates with somebody at some stage somewhere."
He said tackling antisocial behaviour, large housing developments and congestion from roadworks were among the key issues raised by residents in his ward, which needed prioritising.
"There's so much more we can do and it's just about putting our case forward," he added.
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