Nigel Farage's Reform party has secured a significant coup with the defection of three former Conservative MPs, a source within the party has confirmed. The move represents a major blow to Rishi Sunak's Conservatives and signals a further rightward shift in British politics.
Who Has Crossed the Floor?
The trio joining Reform are Jonathan Gullis, the former MP for Stoke-on-Trent North, Lia Nici, who represented Grimsby, and Chris Green, the ex-MP for Bolton West. Their decision follows the high-profile switch of sitting MP Danny Kruger to Reform in September.
Notably, Jonathan Gullis served as a Conservative Party deputy chairman and as an education minister. In a statement to the BBC, he delivered a damning verdict on his former party, asserting it had "lost touch with the people it was meant to serve." This sentiment underscores the growing disillusionment among some on the Tory right.
A Declared Death Knell for the Conservatives?
A source from within the Reform party framed the defections in stark terms, declaring the Conservative Party "dead" and positioning Reform as the only viable force to challenge Labour at the next general election. This aggressive rhetoric aims to capitalise on current Conservative vulnerabilities and attract disaffected voters.
The defections, confirmed on Monday 1 December 2025, are not isolated incidents but part of a pattern of MPs leaving the Tory fold for Mr Farage's project. They highlight the ongoing internal strife and ideological battles within the centre-right of UK politics.
Implications for the Political Landscape
This development has several immediate consequences:
- It bolsters Reform's credibility by adding experienced parliamentarians with local constituencies to its ranks.
- It intensifies pressure on the Conservative leadership, demonstrating a tangible leak of talent and support to a rival party.
- It sets the stage for a more fragmented right-wing vote in the upcoming election, potentially benefiting the Labour Party.
The political manoeuvring suggests a fierce battle ahead for the soul of the British right, with Reform now positioning itself not just as a protest party, but as a potential successor to the Conservatives.
