List of Conservative Party defections to Reform UK
Logo of the Conservative Party
Logo of Reform UK
This is a list of defections from the British Conservative Party to Reform UK, including former Cabinet members, sitting Shadow Cabinet members and backbenchers, and former Members of Parliament (MPs). As of January 2026, eleven former Conservative Party cabinet ministers have also defected to Reform UK.[1]
All eight of Reform UK's MPs have been a Conservative Party member at some point.[2]
Sitting MPs
The following are MPs who defected while sitting as an MP in the House of Commons.
Frontbench
- Robert Jenrick (defected 15 January 2026) – Shadow Secretary of State for Justice (November 2024 to January 2026)[3][4]
- Danny Kruger (defected 15 September 2025) – Shadow Minister for Work and Pensions (November 2024 to September 2025)[5][6][4]
- Andrew Rosindell (defected 18 January 2026) – Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs (November 2024 to January 2026)[7]
Backbenchers
- Lee Anderson (joined March 2024) – Elected in 2019 as a member of the Conservative Party, but joined Reform in March 2024 after becoming an independent after having the whip suspended for remarks about London Mayor Sadiq Khan that the Conservative Party deemed Islamophobic. He was re-elected as a MP at the 2024 general election for Reform UK, and appointed as the Chief Whip of Reform UK in the House of Commons on 11 July 2024.[8][4]
- Suella Braverman (joined 26 January 2026) – First elected in 2015 for Fareham (Fareham and Waterlooville since 2024), Braverman served as Home Secretary from 6th September to the 19th October 2022 under Prime Minister Liz Truss, before resigning, then being reappointed 6 days later by, and serving under, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak from the 25 October 2022 until her dismissal by Sunak on the 13th November 2023. [9][4]
Former MPs
The following are MPs who defected after their term as MP in the House of Commons ended.
Former frontbenchers
Secretaries of State
- Nadhim Zahawi (defected 12 January 2026) – Former Chancellor of the Exchequer (July–September 2022), and MP for Stratford-on-Avon (2010–2024)[10][11][12][4]
- Nadine Dorries – Former Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (2021–2022) and MP for Mid Bedfordshire (2005–2023).[8][4] Dorries was a member of the Conservative Party for 25 years.[13]
- David Jones (defected 7 July 2025) – Former Secretary of State for Wales (2012–2014), Minister of State for Exiting the European Union (2016–2017), and MP for Clwyd West (2005–2024).[8][4] Jones was Conservative Party member for over 50 years.[13]
Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State, and Ministers of State
- Lia Nici (defected 1 December 2025) – Former Assistant Government Whip (September–October 2022) and MP for Great Grimsby (2019–2024)[8][4]
- Jonathan Gullis (defected 1 December 2025) – Former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for School Standards (September–October 2022, and MP for Stoke-on-Trent North (2019–2024)[8][4]
- Dame Andrea Jenkyns (defected 28 November 2024) – Former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Skills from (July–October 2022) and MP for Morley and Outwood,[8][4] elected as the first Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire in 2025 for Reform, becoming one of Reform's first two elected mayors, alongside Luke Campbell, who was elected concurrently as the inaugural Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire.[14]
- Sir Jake Berry (defected 9 July 2025) – Former Chairman of the Conservative Party and Minister without Portfolio (September–October 2022), Minister of State for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth (2017–2020), and MP for Rossendale and Darwen[8][4]
- Adam Holloway (defected 30 July 2025) – Former Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury (September–October 2022) and Former MP for Gravesham (2005–2024)[8][4]
Former backbenchers
- Ben Bradley (defected December 2025) – Former MP for Mansfield (2017–2024)[8]
- Chris Green (defected 1 December 2025) – Former MP for Bolton West (2015–2024)[8][4]
- Sarah Atherton (defected 2 October 2025) – Former MP for Wrexham (2019–2024)[8][4]
- Maria Caulfield (defected 16 September 2025) – Former MP for Lewes (2015–2024)[8][4]
- Anne Marie Morris (defected 2 July 2025) – Former MP for Newton Abbot[8][4]
- Ross Thomson (defected 24 June 2025) – Former MP for Aberdeen South[8][4]
- Alan Amos (defected 3 April 2025) – Former MP for Hexham (1987–1992)[8]
- Marco Longhi (defected 3 January 2025) – Former MP for Dudley North[8][4]
- Aidan Burley (defected 10 December 2024) – Former MP for Cannock Chase[8][4]
- Lucy Allan (defected May 2024) – Former MP for Telford (2015–2024)[15][16][8]
Peers in the House of Lords
The following are Peers who defected while sitting in the House of Lords.
- Malcolm Ian Offord, Baron Offord of Garvel (defected 6 December 2025) – appointed Life Peer on the 13 October 2021 while a member of the Conservative Party by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.[17][18][19][20] After defecting to Reform on the 6 December 2025, he was appointed by Reform Leader Nigel Farage as Leader of Reform UK Scotland on 15 January 2026, and resigned from the Lords on the 30 January 2026 due to his intention to run in the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.[20][4]
Members of the Scottish Parliament
The following are Member of the Scottish Parliament who have defected to Reform while sitting in the Parliament.
- Michelle Ballantyne (joined January 2021) – On 24 November 2020, Ballantyne quit the Scottish Conservatives to sit as an independent MSP, citing differences on policies and principles with the party and its new leader Douglas Ross.[21][22][23] Ballantyne joined Reform UK in January 2021, and was appointed as the first Leader of Reform UK Scotland.[24] Ballantyne lost her seat in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election,[25] and resigned as Reform's Scottish Leader on the 16th February 2022.[26][27]
- Graham Simpson (defected 27 August 2025) – Member of the Scottish Parliament for Central Scotland (2016–present)[28][29]
Members of the Senedd
The following are Members of the Senedd, the Welsh Parliament, who have defected to Reform while sitting in the Parliament.
- Laura Anne Jones (defected 22 July 2025) – Member of the Senedd for South Wales East (2003–2007; 2020–present), and Monmouthshire County Councillor for Wyesham ward (2017–2022)[30][31]
- James Evans (defected 5 February 2026) – Member of the Senedd for Brecon and Radnorshire (2021–present)
Members of the London Assembly
The following are members of the London Assembly who have defected from the Conservative Party.
- Keith Prince (defected 4 October 2025) – Member of the London Assembly for Havering and Redbridge (2016–present)[32]
- Alex Wilson (defected in 2020) – Londonwide Member of the London Assembly and the Leader of Reform UK in the London Assembly (2024–present), formerly a member of Redbridge London Borough Council for Wanstead with the Conservative Party (2009–2014)[33]
Police and Crime Commissioners
The following are individuals who defected while serving as a Police and Crime Commissioner.
- Rupert Matthews (defected August 2025) – Elected in 2021, and re-elected in 2024, as the Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner for the Conservatives, Matthews defected in August 2025, becoming Reform's first PCC. [34]
City and county councillors
The following are individuals who defected while serving as City or County Councillors.
- Laila Cunningham (defected 23 June 2025) – Westminster City Councillor for Lancaster Gate (2022–present).[37] On 7 January 2026, Cunningham was announced as the Reform candidate for the 2028 London mayoral election.[38]
- Thomas Kerr (defected 16 January 2025) – Glasgow City Councillor for Shettleston (Ward 19) (2017–present), becoming Reform's first councillor in Glasgow.[39][40]
- Dan Thomas, the Leader of Reform UK Wales defected from the Conservative Party to Reform UK in June 2025 while a member of Barnet London Borough Council representing Finchley Church End[35]
References
- ^ Sparrow, Andrew. "30% of Britons think Burnham would do better job than Starmer as prime minister, poll suggests – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ^ Mata, William (26 January 2026). "All the Tories who have defected to Reform as Braverman joins Farage". LBC. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ^ "Robert Jenrick joins Reform UK after being sacked by Conservatives - Live Reporting". BBC News. 15 January 2026. Archived from the original on 15 January 2026. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Menendez, Elisa (15 January 2026). "All the former Tories who have defected to Reform UK". ITV News. Archived from the original on 27 January 2026. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ^ Kruger, Danny (15 September 2025). "The Tories are done, the voters aren't coming back". The Times.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Conservative MP Danny Kruger defects to Reform UK". BBC News. 15 September 2025. Archived from the original on 15 September 2025. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ "Andrew Rosindell quits Tories and defects to Reform UK". BBC News. 18 January 2026. Archived from the original on 18 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Culbertson, Alix (13 January 2026). "Who are all the former Conservative MPs who have defected to Reform?". Sky News. Archived from the original on 14 January 2026. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ^ Seddon, Paul (26 January 2026). "Ex-Tory Home Secretary Suella Braverman defects to Reform UK". BBC News. Archived from the original on 27 January 2026. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ McKiernan, Jennifer; Zeffman, Henry (12 January 2026). "Former Tory Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi defects to Reform UK". BBC News. Archived from the original on 14 January 2026. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ^ Eastlake, Daisy (15 January 2026). "Nadhim Zahawi defects to Reform UK". www.thetimes.com. Archived from the original on 12 January 2026. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
- ^ Eastlake, Daisy (15 January 2026). "Nadhim Zahawi 'begged for peerage' before defecting to Reform, claim Tories". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
- ^ a b Gooch, Bryony; Haygarth, Dan (26 January 2026). "Full list of Tories who have defected to Farage's Reform after Suella Braverman becomes latest recruit". The Independent. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ^ "Reform wins two new mayoral contests as ex-boxer clinches Hull and East Yorkshire". Sky News. 2 May 2025. Archived from the original on 1 May 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
- ^ "MP suspended after endorsing Reform UK candidate". BBC. 27 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ Parsley, David (29 May 2024). "Ex-Tory MP in talks to stand for Reform after she was suspended by Conservatives". inews.co.uk.
- ^ "Lord Offord of Garvel". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
- ^ Webster, Laura (13 October 2021). "New Scotland Office minister Malcolm Offord given official Lords title". The National. Archived from the original on 13 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
- ^ Matchett, Connor (30 September 2021). "Unelected millionaire dogged by 'cronyism' accusations given peerage and Scottish ministerial role by UK Government". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ a b Woodson-Cane, Nicole (6 December 2025). "Millionaire Tory donor made a peer by Boris Johnson defects to Reform UK". The Independent. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
- ^ "MSP Michelle Ballantyne quits Scottish Tories". BBC News. 24 November 2020. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ^ "Conservative MSP Graham Simpson defects to Reform". BBC News. 27 August 2025. Archived from the original on 18 December 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
The defection means Simpson becomes Reform's sole current MSP. Michelle Ballantyne sat as a Reform member at the Scottish Parliament from January to May 2021, having left the Conservatives the previous year and sitting for a short spell as an independent. She lost her seat at the May 2021 election.
- ^ Scott, Kevin (27 August 2025). "Graham Simpson: Who is Scotland's only Reform MSP?". STV News. Archived from the original on 6 September 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
[Graham] Simpson becomes the second ever Reform UK MSP – following former Tory MSP Michelle Ballantyne's defection in the last parliamentary session before Farage became party leader.
- ^ "Former Tory MSP to lead Scots wing of rebranded Brexit Party". BBC News. 11 January 2021. Archived from the original on 2 November 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ^ "Small parties and independents big losers in Scottish elections". The National. 9 May 2021. Archived from the original on 30 November 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ^ Garton-Crosbie, Abbi (16 February 2022). "Reform Party: Michelle Ballantyne quits as Scottish leader". The National. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
- ^ Rodger, Hannah (16 February 2022). "Leader of Scotland's Reform UK party Michelle Ballantyne quits after a year". The Herald. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
- ^ Williams, Craig (August 2025). "Conservative MSP Graham Simpson defects to Reform". BBC News. Archived from the original on 27 August 2025. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
- ^ Scott, Kevin (27 August 2025). "Graham Simpson: Who is Scotland's only Reform MSP?". STV News. Archived from the original on 6 September 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ^ Deans, David (22 July 2025). "Welsh Tory Laura Anne Jones defects to Reform". BBC News. Archived from the original on 1 February 2026. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
- ^ Price, Emily (22 July 2025). "Tory MS Defects to Reform UK". Nation.Cymru. Archived from the original on 25 December 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
- ^ Lydall, Ross (4 October 2025). "London Tory defects to Reform and 'charismatic' Nigel Farage in fresh blow to Kemi Badenoch on eve of party conference". Archived from the original on 4 October 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
- ^ "Reform's assembly members criticised for missing City Hall remembrance event". Barnet Post. 11 November 2025. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
- ^ Saull, Pete (4 August 2025). "Leicestershire's policing boss Rupert Matthews joins Reform UK". BBC News. Archived from the original on 21 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ a b Lydall, Ross (30 June 2025). "Former London Tory council leader latest to defect to Nigel Farage's Reform". The Standard. Archived from the original on 29 August 2025. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ^ Browne, Adrian (5 February 2026). "Who is Reform UK's Welsh leader Dan Thomas?". BBC News. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ^ Zorzut, Adrian (23 June 2025). "Reform gains its first London council seat as Tory jumps ship saying they 'let the country down'". My London. Archived from the original on 1 July 2025. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
- ^ Cecil, Nicholas (7 January 2026). "Laila Cunningham unveiled as Reform's candidate for London Mayor as she tells Sadiq Khan: 'Your time is up'". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 12 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ Cochrane, Angus (16 January 2025). "Scottish Conservative councillor defects to Reform". BBC News. Archived from the original on 28 April 2025. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
- ^ Gilmour, Ruaraidh (24 February 2025). "Thomas Kerr: Ready for Reform". Holyrood. Archived from the original on 10 June 2025. Retrieved 10 June 2025.