Kemi Badenoch has dismissed fears of a defection deluge to Reform UK after three former Tory MPs crossed the floor to join Nigel Farage’s party.
Jonathan Gullis, Lia Nicki and Chris Green announced this morning that they had defected to Reform UK, taking the total number of ex-Tory in Mr Farage’s ranks to 18.
Despite the Tories looking at a potentially torrid set of elections next year, Mrs Badenoch suggested defections to Reform could dry up ahead of the next general election.
Speaking to GB News, the Tory leader said: “I don’t think so. Actually, there are a lot of people who jump from ship to ship, looking at who they think is going to win.
“Last year, we had two MPs go to the Labour Party because they saw Labour was going to win.
“Former MPs will do what they like. I believe that those people are leaving because they want to be in a party that is generous on benefits.
“I think the benefits bill is far too high. We need to bring it down.”
However, some fear further defections from the Tories to Reform UK further down the line, especially after Shadow Minister Danny Kruger crossed the floor in September.
Kemi Badenoch suggested defections to Reform could dry up ahead of the next general election
|
GB NEWS
Tory MP Andrew Rosindell has also refused to rule out defecting earlier this year after being snapped alongside Reform UK councillor Russell Quick.
Mr Rosindell instead insisted he remains committed to the two right-wing parties forging a closer partnership ahead of the next general election.
GB News revealed in August that a letter sent to ex-Tory MPs from the Conservative Campaign Headquarters had also pushed a number of former parliamentarians to consider knocking on Mr Farage’s door.
One ex-Tory MP, who received the letter informing them they would not have preferential treatment to make a Commons comeback, told GB News: “The temptation to jump ship and join Reform is a real option for some former Conservative MPs.”
Jonathan Gullis was among three ex-Tories who defected to Reform this morning
|
GETTY
The People’s Channel also understands that ex-MPs were left particularly infuriated by the tone of the letter, describing it as “daft”, “tactless” and even “offensive”.
However, opinion polls suggest Mrs Badenoch’s Budget response to Chancellor Rachel Reeves might have cut through with voters.
The Leader of the Opposition told GB News she has no regrets about her scathing response to the Chancellor hiking taxes by £26billion.
“I was speaking for a lot of people out there who were tearing their hair out at the way that Rachel Reeves is punishing them,” Mrs Badenoch added.
“You go to any pub, you see what they’re dealing with, speak to any farmer, any small business – they are suffering.
“There was nothing in this budget for them. This was a budget for benefits.”
A poll conducted by BMG Research revealed Reform’s support has slumped by five-points since the Budget, taking Mr Farage down to 30 per cent.
Meanwhile, Mrs Badenoch received a three per cent boost, consolidating third spot on 20 per cent and narrowly trailing Labour by two-points.
After months of speculation about potential plots to remove her as Leader of the Opposition, Mrs Badenoch remained defiant about taking the task to Labour and Reform UK.
“I’m just getting on with the job,” the North West Essex MP said.