Suella Braverman delivers bleak election verdict to the Tories after being handed top Reform job: 'They will cease to be a national party!'

Delivering her speech at a Reform UK press conference today, Mrs Braverman vowed to deliver a "patriotic and balanced curriculum", and put an "end to the transgender chaos in the classroom".

She said: "Social and gender transitioning will be absolutely banned in all schools - no ifs, no buts.

"What we teach children and how we teach them has a profound affect on the destiny of our country."

Speaking to GB News Political Editor Christopher Hope following the press conference, Mrs Braverman expressed her joy and "honour" at being given the Shadow Cabinet role.

She said: "I've been motivated to get into politics because of education. Education really shapes the destiny of our country, and it was the original factor that drove me to get into politics.

"As I said, I helped set up one of the first free schools, and so yes, I'm really, really honoured to have a chance now to speak about it.

"I've been very much occupied with home affairs, policing borders for many years, legal issues, but actually my real passion and politics is education."

Heaping praise on her fellow Shadow Cabinet members Robert Jenrick and Richard Tice, she added: "Contrary to what is very typical in the Conservative Party, which is a lot of jostling, a lot of power plays, I'm very, very honoured to have this role.

"I'm really chuffed for Richard and Robert with the briefs that they've been handed. I feel part of a great team and I know that everybody, actually all the MPs, have huge amounts of expertise and value to add.

"I've only been in a few weeks, I'm still a new girl, but it's a great team and I'm blown away by the talent in the parliamentary party."

Taking aim at the Conservatives, Mrs Braverman told GB News she came to Reform UK after being "driven out" by the Tories.

She revealed: "One of the big reasons I left the Conservative Party is because it became so toxic, it became unhealthy, and I was largely driven out by my own colleagues.

"I've dealt with abuse and attacks from my own party colleagues for years, very often not reacting, and I'm very pleased now to be part of a very productive and mission led team, which is focused ultimately on serving the British people."

As Christopher challenged Mrs Braverman on criticism of Reform UK for being "Tory heavy", the Reform MP declared that they have "replaced" the Conservative Party.

She told GB News: "Reform UK is now the right wing party in British politics, it has replaced the Conservative Party.

"And if anyone has any doubts about that, they just need to look at the results on May the 8th to see that the Tory party will cease to be a national party after that date, they have become an irrelevance to British politics.

"Reform UK is speaking for, at last, the millions of patriotic Brits who want strong borders, who want a prosperous economy, who want common sense in their schools and want opportunity for their young people.

"I don't think actually that's right or left wing, I think that's the national interest, and so this is the party not just of the right, but actually the party that will restore some sanity into and fix Britain."

Grilling the ex-Tory on whether she has been in contact with any more potential defectors to Reform, Mrs Braverman teased: "I know from a few weeks ago that morale is very low in the Conservative Party, and there are other Conservatives, particularly on the right of the party, who are very worried about the state of British politics.

"And they are thinking about it. I can't speak for them, I can't speak for Nigel, ultimately, it's his decision, and I will support the decision.

"I talk to colleagues in the Conservative Party, and that's all I'll say."