Miriam Cates refuses to rule out political comeback as Tom Harwood asks if she would join Reform UK

It comes after Reform UK welcomed Robert Jenrick to the party yesterday, making him their sixth sitting MP.

Tom Harwood asked Miriam: "There is a deadline for current conservative MPs, a deadline for former Conservative MPs, a deadline for people that might be seen to be Reform adjacent or on the right of the Conservative Party.

"Miriam, I've got a question for you. You're a news presenter now. Would you consider re-entering the world of politics?"

Laughing, she responded: "I honestly don’t know, Tom, I really don’t. It is a real privilege being an MP, and there are many good things about it, but it is a really tough gig.

"I do think that, of course, on this channel and on other news channels, we criticise MPs, rightly so, because we’re a democracy. But I think we really underestimate how much MPs give to the job.

"We were having a conversation about personal ambition on the panel before we went on air, and I actually think it’s really wrong to criticise MPs for having personal ambition.

"If you don’t have personal ambition, there is absolutely no way you would take the risks required to go into politics.

"Everything about your life and your family life is scrutinised.

"You can be accused of things you’ve never done.It’s a horribly vulnerable place to be.

"If you don’t have personal ambition, what is going to carry you through that?"

During her political career Miriam Cates spoke out on a range of topical issues affecting families, including protecting the rights of women and girls and maintaining single-sex spaces.

She also led a debate on banning mobile phones in schools.

At the 2024 General Election, Miriam lost her seat to the Labour candidate Marie Tidball.

Compared with her 2019 result, she suffered a significant drop in support, with votes shifting to both Labour and Reform UK.

It comes as ex-Tory MP Robert Jenrick told the BBC his defection to Reform UK is not about personal ambition and will "unite the right."

Mr Jenrick said that he was the "bookies' favourite" to be the next Tory leader before he defected.

He "said no to all of that" to join Reform. "You don't do that if you're motivated by personal ambition."

Tory Party leader Kemi Badenoch said she's not worried about further defections and the Conservative Party is "stronger" without Mr Jenrick. She added that Nigel Farage has done her "spring cleaning" for her.