EU referendum, brexit and the aftermath

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_Independence_Party_representation_and_election_results#English_councils

2013, 14 & 15 saw ukip winning some council seats at each election, and even won control of Thanet Council.
There were a significant number of local councillors who saw a zero-distance journey
from their position as anti-Union Thatcherites to kipperism,
especially as CallMeDave forced Gay marriage through Parliament.
This was what scared Cameron into believing he needed to 'shoot ukip's fox' and grant the referendum.
The anger at the metropolitan elite is not solely from economically impoverished Northern towns who have lost their sole or major industries and employers, against the Corbyn Labour party, but also from disaffected Tories who are irrelevant to the Parliamentary Conservative party.
In days gone by the local Conservative Club was the balance to the Working Mens' Clubs,
a place for small employers to drink in comparative safety at better prices than pubs, and raise money for elections through Dinner Dances, Bring'n'Buy sales and Cake sales.

These days Tory Central Office can raise £250k from an Oiligarch's wife for playing tennis with dePfeffel, and such like. TCO can also use social media to contact potential voters directly,
so who needs the local Councillors to plod round the streets delivering leaflets no-one reads?