In a dramatic political development, former Home Secretary Suella Braverman has crossed the floor to join Nigel Farage's Reform UK party. Her defection comes amidst significant controversy after the Conservative Party issued, then hastily retracted, a statement that referenced her mental health.
Conservatives Forced to Retract Controversial Statement
The Conservative Party faced immediate backlash after their initial response to Ms Braverman's departure included the sentence: 'The Conservatives did all we could to look after Suella's mental health, but she was clearly very unhappy.' This statement was withdrawn approximately ninety minutes later, with the party claiming it had been 'sent out in error.'
Brian Dow, deputy chief executive of the charity Rethink Mental Illness, strongly criticised the remarks. He accused the Tories of 'trivialising' mental health issues and using them as a 'political football.' Mr Dow emphasised that 'Employers should never disclose any details about the mental health of their employees or former staff. Doing so says far more about them than the person they are referring to.'
Braverman and Farage Respond to the Fallout
At a press conference announcing her defection, Ms Braverman addressed the personal nature of the attacks. 'When I diagnosed all of these problems after the last general election, the leader herself said that I was having a nervous breakdown, something she seems to have repeated again today,' she stated. 'As Nigel said, those attacks say more about them than they do about me.'
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, standing alongside Ms Braverman, said his party would not 'lower ourselves' to such 'abusive' jibes. He framed the defection as part of building an 'election-winning machine by uniting the centre-Right of politics around Reform.'
A Significant Blow to the Conservative Party
Ms Braverman's move represents the third defection of a sitting MP to Reform UK in just ten days, following Robert Jenrick and Andrew Rosindell. This brings Reform's parliamentary contingent to eight MPs, a notable increase that presents both an opportunity and a challenge for Mr Farage.
The defection leaves Mr Farage grappling with accusations that Reform is becoming 'Tories 2.0,' as his party now boasts more members from Liz Truss's former cabinet than from Kemi Badenoch's current top team. 'I can't win, can I?' Mr Farage remarked. 'Either people say you're a one-man band or you're an uncontrollable rabble.'
A senior Conservative source indicated that Ms Braverman's departure had been anticipated for months, describing it as a matter of 'when, not if.' The source also accused Mr Farage of inadvertently aiding the Labour Party by 'shifting attention away from the party's civil war over Andy Burnham.'
Constituency Reaction and Political Justifications
In Ms Braverman's Fareham and Waterlooville constituency in Hampshire, reactions were mixed. Some constituents felt she had 'taken too long to jump ship,' while others accused her of 'treachery' and called for an immediate by-election.
Ms Braverman rejected these accusations, acknowledging that some voters would feel 'disappointed and upset.' However, she insisted her core political views, including advocacy for leaving the European Convention on Human Rights, remained unchanged. 'I'm on the Right – proudly on the Right – but the Right have lost the battle for the Conservative Party,' she declared.
Explaining her decision at the Veterans for Reform launch event, Ms Braverman was scathing of her former colleagues: 'When push comes to shove, they go AWOL. No courage, no backbone, no resolve. … There is only one man in British politics who has been courageously consistent for his country. And that man is Nigel Farage.'
Wider Political Repercussions and Future Defections
The Conservative Party responded pointedly to her claim of having 'come home' to Reform. A Tory spokesman noted, 'She says she feels that she has 'come home', which will come as a surprise to the people who chose not to elect a Reform MP in her constituency in 2024.' The statement contrasted MPs motivated by community service with those driven by 'personal ambition.'
The spokesman also highlighted Ms Braverman's previous unsuccessful leadership bids within the Conservative Party, coming sixth in 2022 and failing to secure enough support to even appear on the ballot in 2024.
Attention now turns to who might be next to defect. Former Brexit minister Lord Frost hinted he could follow, stating he and Ms Braverman had 'always seen things the same way.' Meanwhile, a promised defection from the Labour Party appears to have stalled, for now.
This high-profile defection underscores the ongoing fragmentation on the British right and sets the stage for further political realignments as the next general election approaches.
