Suella Braverman has been tipped to “jump ship” from Reform UK in a bid to save her seat, a leading Conservative told GB News.
The former Home Secretary was welcomed to the populist party’s ranks yesterday, beckoning an avalanche of divided opinion amongst Tory bigwigs.
But, discussing the switch on GB News today, the Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster cast doubt on Mrs Braverman’s true commitment to Nigel Farage’s party.
Alex Burghart said: “It may well be that she jumps ship…
“I think one of the things that sticks in a lot of people’s craw about this regard to her constituency, is that it wasn’t that long ago that Nigel Farage was saying if people jump parties, there ought to be by-elections.
“That’s the right, moral thing to do. And, now it’s not so convenient for him, he doesn’t say it so much. So, I think these are rather mobile principles.”
Mr Burghart was in agreement with journalist David Maddox, who said Mrs Braverman’s time in the Conservatives “was pretty much done”.
He added: “I think she’s going to have to do a chicken run, I have to be frank. I don’t think [Fareham and Waterlooville’s] a very Reform constituency.
Alex Burghart joined Martin Daubney on GB News
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“She might need to go next door to Portsmouth or Gosport to get a better hearing.”
In Mrs Braverman’s constituency, the Conservatives are projected to win 48 per cent of the vote at the next General Election, data aggregator Electoral Calculus has declared.
But Reform UK is hot on the party’s heels with 46 per cent of the vote.
The final decision will be left to the Fareham locals, who have since given the People’s Channel their verdict on their MP’s announcement.
Mrs Braverman was unveiled as Reform UK’s eighth MP yesterday
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This morning, Hampshire residents gave GB News Reporter Isobel Feculak a mixed response, with some branding the defection “awful”, and others admitting it was the “best thing she could do”.
Expressing his concern over his MP’s defection, one man told GB News: “It’s difficult to put into words.
“I think the system whereby one votes for a particular party through a General Election and then they can just ditch the party and go somewhere else, it should not be allowed. And personally, I’d never thought a lot about her.
“I recently moved down here, and Andy Burnham was my MP at the time, and I just don’t like it on principle. I think it’s awful, and where she’s gone is awful. And I’ve never liked her.”
Meanwhile, another resident appeared overjoyed at the switch, saying it was “absolutely brilliant” and declared “Fareham needs Reform”.
He said: “It’s the best thing she could have done, it’s what Reform need right now, and it’s hard luck to the Tories. Fareham needs Reform.”
In her announcement alongside Mr Farage, Mrs Braverman announced her defection “felt like she was coming home” and added she “no longer” trusts the Tories.
At the press conference, she added: “If the party you joined no longer reflects the values and principles that it once did, you should question your allegiance.
“If the party keeps breaking its promises, you should question your loyalty. And now too many promises lie in tatters.
“Too much damage has been done, and I no longer trust the Conservative Party.”