Westminster was rocked by a political earthquake as former Conservative Treasury Minister Jim O'Neill dramatically defected to Reform UK, dealing a devastating blow to Rishi Sunak's struggling government.
The high-profile crossing of the floor comes at the worst possible time for the Conservatives, just weeks before the crucial Blackpool South by-election where O'Neill will now stand as Reform UK's candidate.
Senior Tory Figure Switches Allegiance
Lord O'Neill of Gatley, who served as commercial secretary to the Treasury under David Cameron and George Osborne, announced his shock defection with scathing criticism of the modern Conservative Party. The respected economist and former Goldman Sachs chief economist declared the Tories had "abandoned the principles of conservatism" that originally attracted him to the party.
In a devastating assessment, O'Neill stated: "The Conservative Party has abandoned the very principles that attracted me to it in the first place. It has abandoned conservatism and no longer represents the people who trusted it with their votes."
Blackpool By-Election Game-Changer
The timing of O'Neill's defection could prove particularly damaging for Sunak's party. The Blackpool South by-election, triggered by the resignation of former Tory MP Scott Benton following a lobbying scandal, was already viewed as a tough battle for the Conservatives.
O'Neill's candidacy for Reform UK transforms the political dynamics of the contest, potentially splitting the right-wing vote and handing an advantage to Labour in a constituency the Conservatives held with a 3,690 majority in 2019.
Reform UK's Growing Momentum
Reform UK leader Richard Tice hailed the defection as a "massive moment" for his party, declaring: "Jim is exactly the kind of big-hitter we need to show that Reform UK is ready to take on the establishment and win."
The move represents Reform UK's most significant political capture to date and signals growing momentum for the party founded by Nigel Farage. Political analysts suggest O'Neill's defection could encourage other disillusioned Conservatives to follow suit, particularly those concerned about the party's direction under Sunak's leadership.
As Westminster reels from this dramatic political realignment, all eyes now turn to Blackpool South, where what was already a challenging by-election for the Conservatives has just become considerably more complicated.
