Andrea Jenkyns has revealed she told then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that candidates should be able to stand on a joint Conservative-Reform UK ticket.
The former MP also said James Cleverly was “stupid” if he did start discussions about the UK handing over the Chagos Islands.
Speaking on GB News, she said: “I wasn't even aware [of the discussions over the Chagos Islands] so I don't know if that was kept hush hush at the time from when I was an MP. But had I known that at the time, I would have spoken out about it.
“I think, how stupid of James [Cleverly] sort of even started those talks as well, especially if you look at the moment, what's going on globally. These strategic locations, these allies, we need to be working together, not handing it back and leaving them open to the likes of China jumping in there.
“So I'd say, whether it's James or Labour, it is a ridiculous thing to do.
“This is a taste of things to come, and this is why we need a strong leader. We need both Conservatives and Reform to somehow unite over this issue and fight this together, because the Lib Dems are not going to fight it.
“We know that both parties need to be standing up for the British public on this now.
“I haven't got a crystal ball, but I don't agree with the decision, if there's truth behind that. But let's not forget, next week the MPs are narrowing the two down. So the power lies with them at the moment.
“I've been thinking of Robert [Jenrick], so I'm just really deciding what to do at the moment. And I'm not an MP so I don't get to vote for those final two.
“We've seen lots of issues in government. Let's not forget Brexit, those turbulent years which actually took our energies away from other things. I was a big proponent of Brexit.
“We also saw the issues with Covid and the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis. So unfortunately, it's not exactly been peacetime for the Conservative government these last few years.
“Now, can they come back? Well, I’ve said quite openly, even before the election, somehow both parties need to work together in some loose arrangement as we get closer to an election. Otherwise, how are we going to get rid of this disastrous Labour government, who I'm quite ashamed of Britain with them at the helm.
“I sort of met with Reform, and I also met with Rishi prior to the election, about April time. And I said red wall seats like mine - I was willing to do this - why can't I stand as a Conservative and Reform candidate and let MPs have the option? That way it's uniting the right against Labour.
“I said, we should be taking the fight to Labour, not to each other, and I floated that as an idea. So I think there's so many different options that we could look at.
“I know, at the moment Reforms’s on the crest of a wave. They've got an increasing membership, etc, so they won't consider that at the moment.
“But let's see, near an election where both parties are, what state our wonderful country is in by then, under Labour, and let's see whether we can bang heads together.
“Rishi wasn't against it initially. I mean, he kept his cards close to his chest. But my understanding, because I had a one to one meeting with him, my understanding is he got talked out of it quite easily.”
