Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has issued a stark warning to Conservative MPs considering joining his party: they must act before May 7 or the door will be shut. The ultimatum comes as another senior Tory, Andrew Rosindell, crossed the floor to join the growing ranks of defectors.
The Defection Deadline
Speaking to the media, former Conservative Robert Jenrick, who himself defected to Reform last Thursday, confirmed the hard deadline. He stated that while MPs who share Reform's values would be welcomed, Nigel Farage was right to insist this must happen swiftly. "After the May elections, then the door closes and Reform moves on," Jenrick explained. "It can't be that people just make up their mind, or Johnny-come-latelies to this."
The May 7 date coincides with crucial local elections across England, where Reform hopes to make significant gains. The cut-off applies not only to current and former MPs but also to local councillors contemplating a switch.
Another Senior Tory Crosses the Floor
The warning followed the high-profile defection of Andrew Rosindell, the Conservative MP for Romford since 2001. Rosindell, a former shadow minister under Kemi Badenoch, posed with his new leader outside Parliament on Monday night after resigning from his frontbench role.
He becomes the second Conservative MP to defect to Reform in a week, following Robert Jenrick. Rosindell cited the government's handling of the Chagos Islands sovereignty issue as a key reason for his departure, calling it a "total failure of the British state to protect British interests." He told reporters, "I repudiate what has happened, and that's one of the reasons I decided this weekend to join Nigel and Reform UK."
In a bold endorsement, Rosindell declared, "This man [Farage] has to be our next prime minister. Our country needs reform. It needs change, and we need to rescue our nation."
Farage Claims the Centre-Right is Uniting
Welcoming Rosindell, Nigel Farage claimed the "centre right is uniting" under the Reform banner. He noted he had known the Romford MP for over 25 years. A Conservative Party source suggested Rosindell had threatened to defect for months, framing the move as part of Farage doing Badenoch's "spring cleaning."
Despite his strong criticism of the party's direction, Rosindell expressed no personal malice towards his former colleagues, stating they had been "incredibly kind" and understood his decision. He confirmed he had not spoken to Kemi Badenoch since his announcement but wished her well personally.
The consecutive defections signal a deepening rift within the right of British politics, with Reform UK positioning itself as a strict gatekeeper, willing to accept converts only before a rapidly approaching political deadline.
