One other former Conservative MP has defected to Reform UK.
Maria Caulfield, who served because the MP for Lewes for practically a decade, in addition to a authorities minister, is the thirteenth ex-Tory to affix Nigel Farage’s social gathering, which continues to assemble momentum.
The announcement of her transfer on Tuesday follows sitting MP Danny Kruger’s decision to defect yesterday and head up Reform’s work to arrange for presidency.
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Ms Caulfield, a former well being minister, instructed GB Information: “If you’re Conservative right-minded, then the long run is Reform. The nation goes to alter lots.
“The identical individuals who thought that Brexit wouldn’t occur suppose that Reform is not going to occur. They’re in for a shock.”
She added: “I’ve joined. My husband joined a number of months in the past and I joined a month in the past.”
Reacting to the defection, Tory chief Kemi Badenoch admitted her social gathering is having a “robust and bumpy time”, however reiterated her argument that it takes time to develop insurance policies, and referred to as on the general public and her social gathering to be affected person.
Ms Caulfield is a former nurse, and her first ministerial job got here in 2021, when she joined the Division for Well being in Boris Johnson’s authorities.
After a spell on the backbenches through the temporary premiership of Liz Truss, she was introduced again into authorities below Rishi Sunak, turning into the minister liable for psychological well being and ladies’s well being.
She misplaced her seat on the 2024 common election to the Liberal Democrats, along with her vote share having plummeted by practically 22%.
‘We have to maintain our nerve’
Her announcement follows that of Danny Kruger, the MP for East Wiltshire, who introduced his transfer at a press convention alongside Nigel Farage on Monday.
He stated the Conservative Occasion is “over”, and Reform is now the first car for conservatism.
Sitting MP Danny Kruger defects to Reform UK.
However shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride stated his evaluation was “profoundly flawed”.
He instructed BBC Radio 4’s Right now programme: “It’s actually the case that we had a devastating defeat a few 12 months in the past, that we misplaced that reference to the voters, that belief with the voters, and additionally it is true that it’ll take us time to rebuild that.”
He added: “We have to maintain our nerve.”
