Nigel Farage has been eyeing up at least eight former Tory MPs to join Reform UK in what could prove a major blow to Kemi Badenoch.
Having secured Lee Anderson as Reform’s first bolt from the blue in March 2024, 10 more ex-Tory MPs have since joined Nigel Farage’s turquoise revolt.
Lucy Allan, Mark Reckless, Dame Andrea Jenkyns, Aidan Burley, Marco Longhi, David Jones, Ross Thomson, Anne Marie Morris, Sir Jake Berry and Adam Holloway
Ex-Wrexham MP Sarah Atherton this week appeared to open the door to joining Reform, confirming her decision to quit the Tories while admitting she has ambitions to contest the 2026 Welsh Parliament Election.
Mr Farage has been open about his conditions for Conservatives joining Reform UK.
Speaking to GB News last month, the Clacton MP said: "If people are coming to Reform because they see it, simply, as the best life raft for their political careers, then I'm not interested.
"But if they're coming to Reform because they really believe in what we're trying to do, they really believe that our country is in deep and desperate trouble, and it needs to be turned around, and they want to be part of that project, and them coming to us adds [to that project], then the door is open."
So, who are the eight ex-Tory MPs that The Times last month reported as being on defection watch.
Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch
|PA
Jonathan Gullis
Jonathan Gullis has gone on the record to discuss the prospect of him joining Reform UK
| GB NEWSAge: 35
Seat: Stoke-on-Trent North - 2019 to 2024
Defeat: Lost to Labour by 5,082 votes (Reform UK received 8,824 votes)
Political high point: Junior Minister and Mayor of Kidsgrove
What have they said about Nigel Farage and Reform UK?
Speaking last month, Jonathan Gullis said: "At times I've looked at things and thought it could be quite tempting... I'm clinging on by my fingernails... I've never felt so politically homeless in my lifetime."
Brendan Clarke-Smith
Tory MP Brendan Clarke-Smith resigned from his role as Deputy Chairman of the Tory Party | GB NEWS
Age: 45
Seat: Bassetlaw - 2019 to 2024
Defeat: Lost to Labour by 5,768 votes (Reform UK received 9,751 votes)
Political high point: Cabinet Minister
What have they said about Nigel Farage and Reform UK?
“There’s more chance of me joining Westlife than Reform UK,” the then-Bassetlaw MP said in March 2024.
Tom Hunt
Ex-MP Tom Hunt was a leading member of the Covid Recovery Group and Common Sense Group
|PARLIAMENT
Age: 36
Seat: Ipswich 2019 to 2024
Defeat: Lost to Labour by 7,403 votes (Reform UK received 7,027 votes)
Political high point: Covid Recovery Group and Common Sense Group
What have they said about Nigel Farage and Reform UK?
Just weeks before the 2024 General Election, Tom Hunt said: “I will be standing as the Conservative candidate for Ipswich at the forthcoming General Election.
“It’s regrettable that we aren’t on the same side as Nigel Farage and Richard Tice.
“Ultimately we share many of the same views and concerns about the country and the impact that mass migration is having upon it.”
Nick Fletcher
Nick Fletcher believes the Tories will have no choice but to work with Reform UK at the next General Election
| PAAge: 53
Seat: Don Valley - 2019 to 2024
Defeat: Lost to Labour by 2,311 (Reform UK received 8,847 votes)
Political high point: Voted against censuring Boris Johnson after the Privileges Committee’s report and stood unsuccessfully as Mayor of Doncaster
What have they said about Nigel Farage and Reform UK?
Despite slamming Reform UK during his campaign to become Mayor of Doncaster, Nick Fletcher last month said: “There’s four years between now and the General Election. I do believe, at some point, there will be some work done between the Conservative Party and Reform.”
Robin Millar
Ex-Tory MP Robin Millar led the Conservative Union Research Unit
|ROBIN MILLAR/FACEBOOK
Age: 56
Seat: Aberconwy - 2019 to 2024
Defeat: Finished third, trailing first-place Labour by 4,972 votes (Reform UK received 6,091 votes)
Political high point: Headed up the Conservative Union Research Unit and served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales
What have they said about Nigel Farage and Reform UK?
After losing his seat in the 2024 General Election, Robin Millar said that he "bore no ill will" to Reform UK candidates who "saw an opportunity and took it".
Mr Millar also accused the Conservative Party of failing to move to the Right, creating a disconnect between Tory voters and MPs.
Jane Stevenson
Jane Stevenson faced a grilling from Nigel Farage | GB News Age: 54
Seat: Wolverhampton North East - 2019 to 2024
Defeat: Lost to Labour by 5,422 votes (Reform UK received 7,721 votes)
Political high point: Resigned as a Junior Minister to rebel on an amendment to the Safety of Rwanda Bill
What have they said about Nigel Farage and Reform UK?
Speaking shortly after the 2025 Local Elections, Jane Stevenson told GB News: “I think when Kemi shows she’s fighting, she’s got real grit and proper conservative principles.”
Damien Moore
Age: 45
Seat: Southport - 2017 to 2024
Defeat: Lost to Labour by 5,789 votes (Reform UK received 7,395 votes)
Political high point: Assistant Government Whip
What have they said about Nigel Farage and Reform UK?
Following defeat in the 2024 General Election, Damien Moore blamed Rishi Sunak rather than Nigel Farage for the Conservative Party’s catastrophic defeat.
He said: “Many of those who voted for me in the past say they’ve liked me personally – but they think the real main plank was the lack of leadership on the issue of illegal immigration.”
Miriam Cates
Ex-Tory MP Miriam Cates ruled out joining Reform UK last month
|PA
Age: 42
Seat: Penistone & Stocksbridge
Defeat: Lost to Labour by 8,739 votes (Reform UK received 9,456 votes)
Political high point: A stalwart of the Conservative Right, featuring in the National Conservatism Conference of 2023
What have they said about Nigel Farage and Reform UK?
In a 364-word blog post published last month, Miriam Cates ruled out joining Reform UK because she is a “true conservative”, grateful to the support she received in the 2024 General Election campaign and again Reform UK’s “fantasy tax plan”.