Former Conservative MP Jonathan Gullis has called on party leader Kemi Badenoch to "roll up her sleeves and work much harder" following news of Sir Jake Berry's defection to Reform UK.
Speaking to GB News, Gullis expressed understanding for his former colleague's decision whilst urging the Conservative leader to give people "some hope".
Sir Jake Berry, the former Conservative Party chairman, has announced his defection to Reform UK in what marks the latest high-profile departure from the Tories.
The former MP for Rossendale and Darwen, who previously served as Northern Powerhouse minister under Boris Johnson, confirmed his move to Nigel Farage's party earlier this evening.
Jonathan Gullis has called on party leader Kemi Badenoch to "roll up her sleeves and work much harder"
GB NEWS
Discussing the defection, Gullis said: "I’m sorry to see another ex-colleague of mine join Reform UK, but also understandable.
"I was out there during the local elections. There's not enough understanding of what the Conservatives in 2025 even stands for, so our leader has to really roll up her sleeves and work much harder to actually give people some hope.
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"I’ve been a member for the whole of my adult life of the Conservative Party, and I never felt so despondent about it.
"However, I do think that Reform had a very shaky time since the local elections, I think a bit of arrogance has crept in.
"I think a bit of off messaging, a lot of internal fighting.
"So this will currently come as a huge sigh of relief for Reform UK, the first bit of good news they've had since the locals and we will see if they can buck their ideas up."
Writing in The Sun, Berry declared: "Old Westminster politics has failed. But there's a better way." He told Sky News that he had defected because the Conservatives had "lost their way".
The politician cited the move as a "last chance to rescue Britain from terminal decline", according to reports.
Berry explained his decision to back Reform UK "because I've always believed that change comes with challenging the old order. In shaking up the system when it isn't working".
The politician cited the move as a "last chance to rescue Britain from terminal decline", according to reports.
Getty ImagesThe move is expected to reshape party dynamics and intensify debates over immigration and economic policy, according to political observers.
Sir Jake's defection comes just days after David Jones, the former Conservative Welsh Secretary, also joined Nigel Farage's party.
Berry previously held significant positions within the Conservative Party, including serving as Northern Powerhouse Minister under Boris Johnson.
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