In a significant political realignment, former Conservative Home Secretary Suella Braverman has officially defected to Nigel Farage's Reform UK, marking one of the most high-profile crossings from the Tory benches in recent years. The right-wing politician announced her resignation from the Conservative Party, ending a membership spanning three decades, during a Reform UK veterans event in London on Monday.
A Growing Exodus from the Conservatives
Ms Braverman declared she would immediately begin representing her Fareham and Waterlooville constituency as a Reform UK MP. Her move follows closely on the heels of Robert Jenrick's defection last week, solidifying a pattern of Conservative parliamentarians abandoning their party for Mr Farage's increasingly influential political vehicle. The addition of Braverman elevates Reform UK's parliamentary presence to eight sitting MPs, a notable achievement for a party that has positioned itself as a formidable challenger to the traditional political establishment.
The Comprehensive Roster of Defectors
The migration of Conservative figures to Reform UK has been building momentum over the past two years, with several prominent names making the switch. Below is the complete list of former Tory politicians who have joined Reform UK, illustrating the breadth and depth of this political shift.
Lee Anderson – Elected as Conservative MP for Ashfield in 2019, Mr Anderson defected to Reform UK in March 2024. He has since assumed the role of Chief Whip within the party and successfully retained his seat as a Reform UK MP in the 2024 general election, establishing himself as one of the most visible defections.
Jonathan Gullis – After losing his Stoke-on-Trent North seat in the 2024 general election, Mr Gullis announced his defection to Reform UK in December 2025. He had served as a Tory MP from 2019 to 2024 and briefly held the position of party deputy chairman in March 2024 before his electoral defeat.
Nadine Dorries – Following a 25-year tenure as a Conservative member, Ms Dorries departed for Reform UK in September 2025. The former MP for Mid Bedfordshire (2005-2023) and Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport under Boris Johnson brings considerable governmental experience to her new political home.
David Jones – The former cabinet minister and MP for Clwyd West (2005-2024) defected to Reform UK last summer after more than fifty years of Conservative Party membership. In his departure statement, Mr Jones expressed that Reform UK now best represents his political views and those of many disillusioned voters.
Dame Andrea Jenkyns – Having served as Conservative MP for Morley and Outwood from 2015 to May 2024, Dame Andrea joined Reform UK in November 2024. She subsequently announced her candidacy for the newly-created position of Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire in the 2025 election and joined the party's decision-making board.
Danny Kruger – The MP for East Wiltshire (previously Devizes) since 2019 became one of Reform UK's more prominent defectors in September 2025. At a press conference, Mr Kruger delivered a stark assessment, declaring that the Conservative Party was "over as a national party" and "over as the principal opposition to the left."
Lucy Allan – Former MP for Telford from 2015 to 2024, Ms Allan stood down in the last general election and was suspended from the Conservative Party for publicly endorsing the Reform UK candidate in her former constituency.
Sir Jake Berry – After representing Rossendale and Darwen as MP from 2010 to 2024, Sir Jake defected to Reform UK in July 2025. His Conservative career included a brief stint as Party Chairman in 2022 and service as Minister of State for the Northern Powerhouse under Theresa May and Boris Johnson.
Anne Marie Morris – The former Conservative MP for Newton Abbot (2010-2024) joined Reform UK last year to lead their social care policy development. During her parliamentary tenure, she twice lost the party whip for periods totalling fourteen months between 2017 and 2022.
Marco Longhi – Defecting from the Conservatives to Reform UK in January 2025, Mr Longhi is now president of Turning Point UK. The former MP for Dudley North had been a Conservative Party member since 1999.
Ross Thomson – Formerly MP for Aberdeen South between 2017 and 2019, Mr Thomson announced his defection to Reform UK in June 2025, stating that only Reform possessed "the courage and answers to the issues facing Scotland and the United Kingdom."
Chris Green – Mr Green defected to Reform UK in December 2025 after serving as MP for Bolton West from 2015 until 2024.
Lia Nici – The former MP for Great Grimsby (2019-2024) defected from the Conservatives to Reform in December 2025. She previously served as assistant government whip during Liz Truss's brief premiership in 2022.
Ben Bradley – The former Mansfield MP and Nottingham County Council leader announced his defection to Reform in December 2025, declaring that trust in the Conservatives "has gone" and "is not coming back." He has been appointed Reform's head of local government action with a focus on reducing council spending.
Nadhim Zahawi – The former Tory chancellor became perhaps the highest-profile defector to Reform UK at the start of January 2026. Mr Zahawi, who served under four consecutive prime ministers, publicly endorsed Nigel Farage as a future prime minister, though some sources suggested his move followed a rejected peerage request – a claim he has dismissed.
Robert Jenrick – Recently sacked from the shadow justice secretary role, Mr Jenrick defected last Thursday with a stark warning about Britain's future. He stated he could no longer remain with a party that had "failed so badly" and praised Mr Farage for consistently advocating necessary reforms.
Andrew Rosindell – The MP for Romford since 2001 announced his defection to Reform UK, bringing the party's parliamentary count to seven MPs before Braverman's addition. In a statement, Mr Rosindell explained that the Conservative Party's failure on issues of British sovereignty represented "a clear red line" for him, compelling him to put "country before party."
Political Implications and Future Prospects
The steady stream of Conservative defections to Reform UK represents a significant challenge to the Tory party's cohesion and electoral prospects. Each defector has cited various reasons for their departure, ranging from ideological disillusionment to strategic calculations about Britain's political future. With Suella Braverman's high-profile crossing, Reform UK has demonstrated its growing appeal to right-wing Conservatives who believe their former party has drifted from its core principles.
This expanding roster of defectors suggests that Nigel Farage's party is successfully positioning itself as a credible alternative for disaffected Conservative voters and politicians alike. As the political landscape continues to evolve, the migration of experienced parliamentarians to Reform UK may significantly influence policy debates, electoral strategies, and the broader direction of British politics in the coming years.
