Suella Braverman Announces Dramatic Defection to Reform UK
In a seismic political move, former Conservative Home Secretary Suella Braverman has publicly declared that she "no longer trusts" the Conservative Party, following her shock defection to Nigel Farage's Reform UK. The announcement, made at a central London press conference, marks one of the most significant political realignments in recent British history.
'The Conservative Party Has Left the Building'
Standing alongside Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, Mrs Braverman delivered a scathing assessment of her former political home. "The Conservative Party has gone, the Conservative Party has left the building," declared the Fareham and Waterlooville MP, suggesting the party no longer represented the values she believed it embodied when she joined three decades ago.
She elaborated on her decision with striking personal analogy: "I've never been divorced, but I've observed a lot of divorces, and this feels a bit like a divorce. Been in a relationship, there's been a lot of and frequent betrayal on the part of one party, and yet I've stayed loyal, tried to make it work."
Brexit 'A Facade' and Broken Promises
Mrs Braverman offered a particularly damning reassessment of Brexit's legacy within the Conservative Party. She admitted she was "wrong" to believe Brexit represented a victory for the Tory Eurosceptic wing, instead characterising it as "actually a facade for what turned out to be a largely Lib Dem, socialist-light agenda."
The former minister outlined her fundamental reasons for leaving:
- The party she joined no longer reflects its original values and principles
- Repeated broken promises have shattered trust
- Substantial damage has been done to the party's credibility
"Too many promises lie in tatters," she stated. "Too much damage has been done, and I no longer trust the Conservative Party."
Farage Doubles Down on 'Britain is Broken' Message
Alongside Mrs Braverman, Nigel Farage reinforced Reform UK's central political narrative, directly contrasting it with both major parties. "The Prime Minister insists that Britain is not broken, the Leader of the Opposition insists that Britain is not broken; we absolutely insist that Britain is broken," he told reporters.
Mr Farage argued that only by accepting this premise could meaningful change occur: "I don't think until you're prepared to accept the depths to which we've sunk and are sinking fast – economically, socially, societally – unless you understand and accept those things, that it's impossible to get into the mindset to be radical enough to change them."
He employed a vivid metaphor to distinguish Reform's approach: "It is like the others want to sort of fiddle with the plumbing; we think you need a completely brand new boiler and a brand new system."
Conservative Response and Mental Health Remarks
The defection prompted immediate controversy when the Conservative Party's initial response included a reference to Mrs Braverman's mental health. The original statement contained the sentence: "The Conservatives did all we could to look after Suella's mental health, but she was clearly very unhappy," though this was removed from a reissued version hours later.
Both Mr Farage and Mrs Braverman condemned these remarks during the press conference. Mr Farage described them as the "last thrashing of a dying political animal," while Mrs Braverman dismissed them as "a bit pathetic" and indicative of "a bitter and desperate party that seems to be in free fall."
Political Significance and Immediate Impact
Mrs Braverman's defection represents a major coup for Reform UK, bringing their number of sitting MPs to eight. She follows fellow Conservative defectors Robert Jenrick and Andrew Rosindell in crossing the floor, signalling growing discontent within Tory ranks.
The former home secretary emphasised the gravity of her decision: "I have not taken this decision lightly." She confirmed she would immediately begin representing her Hampshire constituency as a Reform UK MP, having resigned her Conservative Party membership after thirty years.
Earlier in the day, at a Reform UK event for veterans, Mrs Braverman expressed a sense of political homecoming, stating she felt she had "come home." Her defection underscores the deepening fractures within British conservatism and presents a significant challenge to the Conservative Party's unity and electoral prospects.
