Lee Anderson issues rallying cry as he hails Reform UK as 'home to British patriots': 'We’ve got six big fish now!'

He hailed Robert Jenrick’s defection as a major boost, saying Reform now has “six big fish” with the experience and personality needed to govern.

Mr Anderson said Reform is building a serious governing force, branding the party a “rehoming service” for Conservatives who no longer recognise their former party.

He added that Reform UK believes in “healthy competition” and is already laying the groundwork for a future Government by drawing in experienced figures from across public life.

Speaking to GB News, Mr Anderson said: "Nigel has been clear that when he forms a cabinet, it doesn’t have to be made up solely of serving MPs. We want the brightest and best people from across the country to help run Britain when we win an election.

"Rob has great experience. He was brutally honest at yesterday’s press conference probably more honest than I was when I joined Reform. It was a brave move and he’s a real asset.

"He was one of the most popular Conservative MPs, just as I was Backbencher of the Year before the Tories kicked me out. It shows how out of touch the parliamentary Conservative Party is with its grassroots."

“I would say we’ve now got six big fish in a small pond. We have six MPs — all big characters, all big personalities — who all want to do the right thing for their party.

"We are a party that believes in healthy competition."

GB News host Stephen Dixon asked: "Does Rob want to be leader?

Mr Anderson said: "No, he doesn’t. He wants to be part of the team and is ready to put his shoulder to the wheel and work extremely hard for Reform UK and for this country.”

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS 

• Reform warned Robert Jenrick's defection setting up Labour for 'open goal' election
• 'Reform is now in a much stronger position and Kemi Badenoch has suffered a loss'
• Robert Jenrick put on blast for 'mistimed' Reform defection - 'He's made a mistake'

"Reform UK, they keep saying it's Tory 2.0. I'll tell you what we are.

"We are a rehoming service for true British patriots.

"We rehome them, we give them a little bit of love and then we put them back out there into the field to fight for this great country of ours."

The defection came just hours after Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch dismissed Mr Jenrick from his position as shadow justice secretary, simultaneously removing the party whip and suspending his membership.

Ms Badenoch stated she had been presented with "clear, irrefutable evidence that he was plotting in secret to defect in a way designed to be as damaging as possible to his shadow cabinet colleagues and the wider Conservative Party."

The timing proved chaotic, with the Tories releasing extracts of what they claimed was Jenrick's planned defection speech moments before a Reform press conference began.

There was a notably awkward delay before Jenrick appeared on stage alongside Farage, prompting the Reform leader to quip that Badenoch had not telephoned to ask him back.

A Conservative source indicated Jenrick had dined with Farage the previous month and had been discussing a potential switch with various Westminster figures.

At the Westminster press conference, Jenrick launched a fierce assault on his former party, accusing the Conservatives of lacking "the stomach for the radical change this country needs."

"I can't kid myself any more. The party hasn't changed and it won't," he declared.