In a seismic political shift, former Conservative Home Secretary Suella Braverman has announced her defection to Reform UK, delivering a scathing verdict on her former party by declaring she can "no longer trust the Tories." The move represents a significant coup for Nigel Farage's party and a major blow to the Conservatives' right flank.
A Stinging Rebuke of Conservative Values
Speaking at a press conference in central London alongside Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, Mrs Braverman stated that the Conservative Party had fundamentally changed from the institution she joined three decades ago. She argued the party had effectively "left the building" and no longer represented the principles she once believed it stood for.
"If the party you joined no longer reflects the values and principles that it once did, you should question your allegiance," Mrs Braverman told reporters. "If the party keeps breaking its promises, you should question your loyalty. And now too many promises lie in tatters. Too much damage has been done, and I no longer trust the Conservative Party."
Brexit as a 'Facade' and a Broken Political System
In a particularly striking critique, the Fareham and Waterlooville MP suggested that Brexit had been misrepresented within Tory ranks. She claimed she was "wrong" to believe the 2016 referendum victory marked the triumph of the party's Euro-sceptic wing.
"Brexit was actually a facade for what turned out to be a largely Lib Dem, socialist-light agenda," she asserted, indicating a profound disillusionment with the direction of post-Brexit governance under Conservative leadership.
Farage's 'Britain is Broken' Narrative Amplified
The press conference also served as a platform for Nigel Farage to reinforce Reform UK's central campaign message. He directly challenged attempts by both the Conservative Prime Minister and Labour Leader to counter the portrayal of national decline.
"I'll tell you what the key difference is," Mr Farage stated. "The Prime Minister insists that Britain is not broken, the Leader of the Opposition insists that Britain is not broken; we absolutely insist that Britain is broken."
He elaborated that acknowledging the scale of the problem was a prerequisite for meaningful change, framing the established parties as merely wanting to "fiddle with the plumbing" while Reform UK believed the country needed "a completely brand new boiler and a brand new system."
A Growing Defection Trend and Immediate Impact
Mrs Braverman's move follows the recent defections of fellow Conservative MPs Robert Jenrick and Andrew Rosindell to Reform UK. Her switch brings the total number of sitting MPs in Mr Farage's party to eight, significantly bolstering its parliamentary presence.
She confirmed she would represent her Hampshire constituency as a Reform UK MP with immediate effect, having resigned her Conservative Party membership after thirty years. The former minister described the decision as not taken lightly, but said she felt she had "come home" during a Reform UK event for veterans prior to the official announcement.
The defection underscores the deepening fractures within the Conservative Party and signals a potent challenge from the right as Reform UK seeks to capitalise on discontent with the political status quo.
