Ed Davey woos anti-Reform Tories as Nigel Farage tipped for dozens of defections in blow to Kemi Badenoch

The Kingston MP pointed out that the Tories have abandoned their pledge to hit net zero by 2050 and is even poised to back the UK's departure from the European Convention on Human Rights.

In a plea to potential defectors, Sir Ed told The Telegraph: “Most people in the country aren’t interested in the divisive politics being peddled by the likes of Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage. They just want to see real solutions to their problems.”

He added: “We will stand up for those who feel abandoned by Kemi Badenoch and appalled by Nigel Farage.

"I have lost count of the number of people who have told me: ‘I voted Conservative all my life, but now I’ve switched to the Liberal Democrats.

’“These are people who voted loyally for the Conservatives all their lives but feel the party no longer represents their values.

"Decency, community and respect for the rule of law. It’s why we won so many seats at the general election last year, from Tunbridge Wells to Taunton.”

Sir Ed already benefitted from anti-Brexit ex-Tories switching to the Liberal Democrats ahead of the 2024 General Election.

By-election successes in the Blue Wall were emulated last July, with the Liberal Democrats returning 72 MPs to the House of Commons.

Sir Ed's top target seats also tend to be held by the Tories, including ex-Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's seat of Godalming & Ash.

Two thirds of constituencies where the Lib Dems are behind by less than 10,000 votes are held by the Conservatives.

However, more ex-Tories have been shifting to Reform UK than the Liberal Democrats.

Around one-in-four 2019 Tory voters switched to support Nigel Farage in the 2024 General Election, compared to just seven per cent who ended up voting for the Liberal Democrats.

Techne's latest opinion poll suggests more than one-third of 2024 Tory voters would now support Reform UK, significantly higher than the two per cent now siding with the Liberal Democrats.

Reform UK is also continuing to attract support from top Tories.

Mr Farage this week unveiled ex-Shadow Minister Danny Kruger as his highest-profile defection yet.

Mr Kruger, seen as one of the key thinkers on the Tory Right, said: "This is my tragic conclusion, the Conservative Party is over, over as a national party, over as the principal opposition to the left."

However, Reform UK has also managed to win more than a dozen former Tory MPs, including ex-Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries.

Mrs Badenoch has now been warned by a former top Tory to expect yet more defections over the coming months.

Ex-Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood, who sits firmly on the liberal end of the Tory Party, said: "Reform’s surge may force that reckoning. Its rise is brutal for my party and more than a dozen MPs will defect, but the Tories must let the blood flow.

"It may ultimately help the party rediscover its national purpose, recover its vision and restore its appeal as a force in British politics — necessary if it is ever to govern again."

Mrs Badenoch has already admitted that the Tories face a "rough and bumpy time" amid a surge in defections.

Following Mr Kruger's decision to cross the floor, the Leader of the Opposition told GB News: "Every leader regrets losing someone to another party."

Reform UK's policy chief Zia Yusuf claimed that his phone was "blowing up" following Mr Kruger's defection.

However, Reform UK insiders have told GB News that Mr Farage is not prepared to accept all potential defectors.

"Reform has no room for deadbeat, failed Tories," a Reform UK insider told GB News. "They ruined the country. Reform is the future."

Another Reform source added: "The truth is that there are very few sitting or past Tory MPs who would really be welcome. Switchers are definitely considered on a case-by-case basis."