Conservative MP Lucy Allan has been suspended after she backed a Reform UK candidate to replace her in her constituency.
She posted online that she will be supporting Alan Adams to be Telford’s next MP, sharing links to his campaign.
A Conservative Party spokesman said: “Lucy Allan has been suspended from the Party with immediate effect. The people of Telford now have the chance to vote for a dedicated and hardworking new candidate who will put Telford first. A vote for Reform is a vote for Keir Starmer.”
By backing Adams, Allan failed to give her support to fellow Conservative Hannah Campbell in Telford, Shropshire.
Tory MP Lucy Allan suspended after publicly backing Reform UK Candidate PAAllan, who has represented Telford since 2015, said that she had quit the Conservatives so she could support Adams.
"I have resigned from the Conservative Party to support Alan Adams to be Telford's next MP," she said.
"I have known Alan for many years and he is genuinely the best person for the job. I want the best for Telford and I can't just let the Labour candidate have a walkover."
A Reform spokesman said: “Of course we are absolutely delighted that she is backing our candidate in Telford.
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She posted online that she will be supporting Alan Adams to be Telford’s next MP, sharing links to his campaign
Wikipedia Commons
I am supporting Alan Adams to be Telford’s next MP. If you want to help Alan or donate to his campaign, sign up on his website https://t.co/lPOjtyWSXU pic.twitter.com/KNPB6qex0P
— Lucy Allan (@lucyallan) May 27, 2024
“She, like many Conservatives, feels that the Reform party represents traditional centre-right values and priorities in a way that the Conservative Party has long forgotten.”
Asked by GB News on his thoughts on Allan's backing of Adams, Richard Tice, leader of Reform UK, said: "We're delighted recognises that we are a party of common sense, and supporting our Telford candidate to replace her.
"Who knows she may be tempted to stand nearby!"
Allan is one of 78 Tory MPs who are not standing at the election.
The party still has to find candidates in around 150 constituencies.
Her choice to give her support to Reform rather than the Tories is likely to put further strain on Sunak's campaign, which has so far been riddled with public blunders and the stepping down of numerous MPs.
Tory peer Lord Goldsmith, an ally of former prime minister Boris Johnson, hit out at Sunak and implied that he thinks the Conservatives are on a path to failure on July 4.
“I understand the anger towards Sunak who has damaged the party almost beyond repair and all but guaranteed the majority of his MPs will lose their job next month,” the former minister said.
Helen Morgan, the Liberal Democrat MP for North Shropshire, said: "The Conservatives are in complete meltdown. Every day on their campaign trail ends in chaos and calamity.
"From gimmicky policy announcements to an MP exodus to MPs holidaying during the election, the Conservatives are in freefall.
"The Liberal Democrats are on the up, across the country, we're taking the fight to the Conservatives as they fight like rats in a sack."