Former Tory Activist Backs Farage as Revolutionary Leader
David Campbell Bannerman, a veteran Brexiteer and former deputy leader of Ukip, has defected from the Conservative Party to Reform UK, declaring that only Nigel Farage can deliver the "revolution" Britain needs. Campbell Bannerman, known to friends as DCB, was a co-founder of the Conservative Democratic Organisation (CDO) and opposed Boris Johnson's ousting as prime minister. He now believes the Conservatives are "dying" and that Reform represents the true conservative path forward.
"Only Nigel offers us a revolution, in my view," Campbell Bannerman said. "He's a revolutionary leader." He praised Farage's resilience, recalling how after surviving a plane crash in 2010, Farage continued working from his office in the European Parliament, lying on the floor and still on his phone. "He is incredibly resilient and incredibly courageous," Campbell Bannerman added.
Reform UK as the True Conservative Party
Campbell Bannerman, who served as a Ukip and Conservative MEP in the European Parliament, sees Reform UK as the natural home for right-wing voters. He noted that leading Tory figures who participated in CDO events, such as Nadine Dorries and Andrea Jenkyns, have already defected. "Most of the Conservatives I respect have gone across," he said, naming Robert Jenrick, Suella Braverman, and writer Tim Montgomerie. "Reform is the true Conservative party now," he claimed, but added that it is "far more than that."
He criticized the current Conservative Party under Kemi Badenoch, admitting he likes her "feistiness" but does not believe she is "capable of bringing about the revolutionary government we need." With the Tories polling at "20% on a good day," he argued it is delusional to think the party has turned around. "It's still shrivelling. It's still dying," he said, pointing to the party's failure to adopt reforms giving members greater control.
A Revolutionary Agenda for Britain
Campbell Bannerman outlined a sweeping reform agenda for a Reform UK government. He argued the NHS "needs a revolution," calling it a great service but poorly run. An admirer of Margaret Thatcher, he believes "a lot of what government does could be franchised out." He also pressed for major investment in the armed forces, saying Britain must "reinvest the money that's now been lost to welfare in defence," and revitalize the economy "through tax incentives and tax cuts."
He warned that Labour and Chancellor Rachel Reeves are "killing off the economy," calling their policies "a disaster." On free speech, he said it is "in peril" and that the country must "fight these culture wars" and "stop the destruction of our country through a thousand cuts." He expressed excitement at the prospect of a right-leaning government with a clear agenda prepared to take on the civil service to deliver pledges.
Unfinished Brexit Business
Campbell Bannerman, who served as a special adviser to Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Patrick Mayhew, is appalled by the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol. "We need to get rid of the Northern Ireland Protocol, which will take a lot of political will and determination because the EU will go bananas and so will Ireland," he said. He accused the EU of playing "very dangerous and bad games on Northern Ireland" and being allowed to get away with it.
He urged the UK to stop trying to ape the EU and instead scrap many EU laws that are "destroying the economy in Germany and France and throughout the EU." He remains optimistic about Britain's potential outside the bloc, saying, "We're in a very powerful position where we can take the best of Europe, we can take the best of United States."
A Bittersweet Departure from the Tories
Leaving the Conservative Party is bittersweet for Campbell Bannerman, who stood for the Tories in 1997 and 2001 before joining Ukip in 2004. He returned to the Conservatives in 2011, believing only they could offer a way out of the EU. He insists he has "changed parties only for good reasons," with his guiding light being "what's best for my country." He fears the Conservative Party "will always be woke-leaning and Left-leaning" because members have not been put in charge.
Despite his defection, he retains "great respect" for local Tory councillors and activists and cautions against political attacks because "we will probably end up working together anyway in a coalition." The key question, he argues, is who will be "top dog" in a coalition, and he hopes it will be Reform. "I really think it could be a revolutionary government," he said. "And that's exactly what we need."
