In a significant blow to Rishi Sunak's leadership, veteran Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell has crossed the floor to join Nigel Farage's Reform UK. The move, announced by the party, marks another high-profile defection from the Tories as they struggle in the polls.
A 'Red Line' Issue: Sovereignty of the Chagos Islands
Rosindell, who has represented the Essex constituency of Romford since 2001, declared his decision on social media platform X. He stated that "the time has come to put country before party", pinpointing the Conservative position on the Chagos Islands as his breaking point.
The long-serving MP, who joined the Conservatives as a teenager inspired by Margaret Thatcher, expressed profound disappointment. He accused his former party of failing to hold the government to account on Chagossian self-determination and the defence of British sovereignty over the territory.
"Since entering parliament in 2001, I have consistently argued that the right of self-determination of the Chagossian people is sacrosanct," Rosindell wrote. "Regrettably, these concerns have fallen on deaf ears." He claimed both the government and opposition were "complicit in the surrender of this sovereign British territory to a foreign power."
Growing List of Tory Defectors
The 59-year-old's defection follows a string of Conservatives moving to Reform. He joins former cabinet ministers Robert Jenrick and Nadhim Zahawi in abandoning the party, signalling deepening internal fractures.
Rosindell highlighted a specific recent event as the final straw: the failure of Conservative peers to vote down the British Indian Ocean Territory bill earlier this month. He alleged this happened "following direction from the top of the party," demonstrating a leadership unwilling to challenge what he sees as a historic mistake.
"Sadly, I now believe the Conservative party is irreparably bound to the mistakes of previous governments," he concluded, adding that the views of his Romford constituents had been "consistently ignored for far too long."
Implications for Sunak and the Conservative Party
This defection is more than a symbolic loss. Rosindell is a well-known figure on the party's right wing, and his departure over a matter of principle underscores the growing discontent within Tory ranks. It raises serious questions about party unity and discipline ahead of a general election.
The move strengthens Reform UK's claim to be the true standard-bearer for conservative, sovereignty-focused politics in Britain. For the Conservatives, it represents the loss of a seasoned parliamentarian and signals potential further erosion of support to their right flank.
The political landscape continues to shift, with veteran MPs like Rosindell deciding that their principles no longer align with the party they served for decades.
