A "dreadful" secret email sent to former Tory MPs risks a defection deluge to Nigel Farage's Reform UK, GB News has been told.
Conservative Campaign Headquarters last month sent a letter to 175 ex-MPs who lost their seats in the 2024 General Election.
The letter, which allowed ex-MPs to express interest in standing for the Tories in 2029, comes after CCHQ tightened its rules for selecting candidates.
However, the letter will likely come as a blow to the around three-quarters of former Tory MPs hoping to return to the House of Commons.
Dozens of Tory big beasts lost their seats last summer, including ex-Prime Minister Liz Truss, former Commons Leader Dame Penny Mordaunt and Brexit supremo Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg.
GB News has been told that the letter was "daft", "dreadful", "tactless" and even "offensive".
The People's Channel can also reveal that ex-Tory MPs have warned Kemi Badenoch that the rule changes risk pushing more of their former colleagues into Mr Farage's arms.
One ex-Tory MP said: “The one-size-fits-all email sent out by the Candidates Department to every former MP was tactless and offended a number of colleagues.”
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Kemi Badenoch is being warned that a new email from CCHQ risks pushing ex-Tory MPs towards Nigel Farage
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Another former Tory MP added: "It didn't work on a phone, the link was unpredictable, long and asking questions which are just daft for any ex-Cabinet Ministers.
"It either does not point out Cabinet jobs, which is quite tricky to hide, or pigeon-holes ex-MPs by identifying them as being pro-Rishi, Liz, or Boris folk."
A third ex-MP admitted that the process was so "dreadful" that they were going to "quietly keep out of it".
During the Tory Party's recent history, a number of high-profile Conservative MPs have been handed "second acts" after being ousted from the House of Commons.
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Ex-Common Sense Minister Esther McVey was handed a second bite at the cherry after losing her then-seat of Wirral West in 2015, winning in Tatton in the 2017 General Election after former Chancellor George Osborne called time on his political career.
Michael Portillo, whose shock defeat at the 1997 General Election is now referred to whenever a Cabinet Minister loses their seat, was also parachuted into Kensington & Chelsea when a by-election was called in 1999.
However, removing an easy path for defeated Tory MPs to come back to the House of Commons has also sparked fears of further defections.
Ex-Wrexham MP Sarah Atherton, who lost her North Wales seat by 5,948 votes, this week quit the Conservatives and opened the door to joining another political party.
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Ms Atherton had previously urged her Conservative colleagues to "embrace" Mr Farage.
Reform UK has already opened its arms to 11 former Tory MPs since rebranding from the Brexit Party.
Lee Anderson became the first Tory to join Reform UK, crossing the floor following a spat over his comments about London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan.
Lucy Allan, Mark Reckless, Dame Andrea Jenkyns, Aidan Burley, David Jones, Marco Longhi, Ross Thomson, Anne Marie Morris, Sir Jake Berry, and Adam Holloway later confirmed they had also joined Reform UK.
The People's Channel last night revealed ex-Tory MPs have admitted it appears increasingly likely that more of their former colleagues will join Reform UK.
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Reform UK leader Nigel Farage during a recent press conference
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A Brexit-backing ex-MP said: “The temptation to jump ship for some MPs and join Reform is a real option for some former Conservative MPs.
"With all former MPs having to reapply to CCHQ with no special dispensation being offered for their previous service, some are saying that’s a step too far and are exploring Reform where, they believe, they will be welcomed with open arms.”
Meanwhile, a Remain-supporting former Tory MP added: "It’s becoming incredibly likely, particularly for the more egotistical ex-colleague."
However, a senior Reform UK source suggested Mr Farage was willing to block a large number of ex-Tory MPs from joining the turquoise tsunami.
"Reform has no room for deadbeat, failed Tories," the 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."
GB News has approached the Conservative Party and Reform UK for comment.
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