In the latest development, former UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman has officially defected from the Conservative Party to Reform UK, dealing a significant political blow to the Tories and adding momentum to Nigel Farage’s insurgent party as it eyes major gains in future elections.
Braverman, who served as home secretary under prime ministers Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, made her announcement on Monday at a Reform UK rally in London for military veterans, declaring that she had resigned the Conservative whip and party membership after more than 30 years. She told supporters she felt like she had “come home” by joining Reform UK and criticised her former party’s leadership and direction.
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The Fareham and Waterlooville MP, elected in 2015, said her decision reflects deep dissatisfaction with the Conservatives’ handling of key national issues including immigration, public services and national security. Her switch was met with applause from the audience and drawn attention to the growing appeal of Reform UK’s platform among right-wing voters.
Braverman’s defection follows a series of high-profile Tory departures in recent weeks. Just two weeks ago, Robert Jenrick, the former shadow justice secretary, quit the Conservative Party to join Reform UK, and earlier this month Andrew Rosindell also made the switch. With Braverman’s move, Reform UK now boasts eight sitting MPs in the House of Commons, underlining growing discontent within Conservative ranks.
Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, has been gaining ground in national opinion polls, positioning itself as a potent challenger to both Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party and the Conservatives ahead of the next general election. Its platform emphasises tougher immigration controls, stronger national defence, and a reshaping of public services — policies that have increasingly resonated with a segment of the electorate and defecting lawmakers alike.
The spate of defections has intensified internal debates within the Conservative Party, with leader Kemi Badenoch facing mounting pressure to unify her party and stem further losses. Critics argue that the Conservatives must clarify their policy direction and reconnect with their core supporters, while others view the departures as symptomatic of broader fragmentation on the UK’s political right.
Braverman’s move is likely to reshape parliamentary dynamics in the coming months, as Reform UK seeks to capitalise on its expanding cohort of MPs and broaden its influence ahead of key electoral battles.
