Tory defectors: who has already joined Reform UK and who may follow?

"There are others within the Conservative party thought to have considered their position in recent months. But Farage has claimed that the value of such additions to his ranks was dropping and said he would accept no further defectors from the Tories after the May elections, arguing that by then his party's strength would be so clear that they would have little to add."

"The former Labour councillor and Conservative MP became the first ever Reform MP when he defected from the Tories in 2024. Anderson left the party shortly after having the whip removed for refusing to apologise for saying Islamists had got control of Sadiq Khan, the Muslim mayor of London. The combative member for Ashfield became known as 30p Lee by his detractors after he blamed food poverty on a lack of cooking skills, insisting meals could be cooked for about 30p a day."

Robert Jenrick's defection increased the number of current or former Conservative parliamentarians who have joined Reform to 18. Several high-profile defectors are expected to be prominent voices for Nigel Farage in the run-up to the next election, while others within the Conservative party have been considering their positions. Nigel Farage said the value of further Conservative additions to Reform was falling and that he would accept no more Tory defectors after the May elections because Reform's strength would then be clear. Prominent defectors include Lee Anderson and Danny Kruger, who bring contrasting styles and roles to Reform.

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