Why the latest defection to Reform could trigger a wave of Tories switching to Farage’s party
The IndependentFor free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. It is the latest in a series of regional rallies planned by Reform - and Badenoch would be right to dread the prospect that Mr Farage may taunt her by unveiling yet more Tory turncoats. A raft of Tory names have defected to Reform in recent weeks, including former MPs from the right of the party, Dame Andrea Jenkyns and Aiden Burley, as well as ConHome founder Tim Montgomerie and a major former Tory donor Nick Candy. open image in gallery Marco Longhi has defected from the Tories to Reform But the big prize for Reform would be to attract a truly high profile Conservative rather than just one of many former Tory MPs discarded by the voters in July last year or a disaffected Tory councillors Top of the wish list for some senior figures in Reform is, of course, Boris Johnson. With the Conservatives in total disarray after a landslide defeat in July, Badenoch’s party is in a bitter fight with Farage’s Reform to be the main Right wing opposition to Labour at the next election.