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Nigel Farage has made it clear that Reform UK will not simply serve as a replacement Conservative Party following the arrival of Robert Jenrick, a former senior Tory figure who recently defected to the new party. In a piece for the Telegraph, Farage emphasized that Reform is not a refuge for anxious Tory MPs looking to escape their current party, stating that any prospective defectors must be willing to publicly acknowledge that the previous Conservative government “broke the country.”
Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice highlighted Jenrick’s value as “a great new asset” to the party, particularly praising his ministerial experience. Although around 20 former Conservative MPs have joined Reform over the past months, critics argue that the party risks becoming a haven for Tories who have lost influence rather than establishing itself as a distinct political force. Farage has announced that no further defections will be accepted after the local elections on 7 May, warning that MPs who plan to leave the Conservatives after that date are misunderstanding the rapid changes occurring within the country.
In his Telegraph column, Farage made it clear that the party has no intention of sheltering political “failures” and insisted that those seeking to join must genuinely embrace Reform’s core values centered on family, community, and country. Conservative insiders expect some additional defections but do not foresee a large exodus in the immediate future. Meanwhile, Reform has also suggested that a prominent figure from the Labour Party will switch allegiance soon. Baroness Kate Hoey, a former Labour MP and Brexit advocate who has been a non-affiliated peer since 2020, is speculated to be this individual, though neither she nor the party have confirmed this.
Tice, who spoke to the BBC’s program Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg while Farage was unwell, described Baroness Hoey as “a wonderful person” and a “good friend” but stopped short of confirming her defection. Hoey herself has said she has not been aligned with Labour for over eight years and downplayed how well-known she is. Within Reform, some commentators have speculated about potential leadership rivalries arising from Tory defectors, with Jenrick being mentioned as a candidate for shadow chancellor alongside Tice and Zia Yusuf, Reform’s head of policy. When questioned about the possibility of Jenrick taking on such a role, Tice responded that the party has “a great range of talent” and that Farage would make decisions on appointments at the appropriate time.
Jenrick’s move to Reform followed his dismissal from the Conservative shadow cabinet after he was discovered plotting to defect. His background includes serving as immigration, housing, and health minister, bringing substantial governmental experience to Reform. However, his arrival has received criticism from prominent figures such as Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, who likened appointing Jenrick to address the nation’s challenges to “calling out the arsonists to put out the fire.” Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has also commented, stating that the party has become stronger and more united since Jenrick’s departure, dismissing him as “not a team player.”
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