British politics was rocked on Monday when Tory shadow minister Danny Kruger announced his defection to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.
Speaking in London, the East Wiltshire MP declared that the Conservative Party is “over” as a national force and no longer a credible opposition.
The news sent ripples through Westminster, with Kruger emphasizing that his move, though personally painful, was driven by principle and frustration with the party’s inaction over the past year.
A Complex Political Profile
Kruger, 50, comes from a high-profile background as the son of Bake Off host Prue Leith and an Old Etonian with a history in Conservative politics.
He is known as a right-wing figure and a member of the Popular Conservatives, opposing measures such as the assisted dying law.
Yet his résumé also includes moments of centrist appeal. He famously penned David Cameron’s “hug a hoodie” speech while serving as an aide to the former Prime Minister.
In recent years, Kruger led Robert Jenrick’s leadership campaign, although Jenrick ultimately lost to Kemi Badenoch last year.
Joining Reform UK with Big Ambitions
At the press conference in Westminster, Kruger outlined his role in Reform UK, tasked with preparing the party for a potential government if it defeats Labour in the next election.
“I fervently hope that the next prime minister is Nigel Farage,” he told the audience.
Kruger criticized the Conservative Party for its “year of stasis and drift” and argued that centrism and cautious policies have left voters deserting the Tories in droves.
“The Conservative Party is over, over as a national party, over as the principal opposition to the left,” he said.
Reactions from Westminster
Not everyone in politics expressed shock. A defiant Tory MP described Reform as “a very effective laxative for the Tory Party,” highlighting the way defections expose cracks within the Conservatives.
Kemi Badenoch acknowledged such moves as “going to happen” while assuring that the party would not be “blown off course” by departures.
Meanwhile, Kruger joins a growing list of former Tories in Reform UK, including Lee Anderson and Sarah Pochin.
Farage noted that Kruger approached Reform voluntarily, signaling the party’s appeal to dissatisfied Conservative MPs.
From Critic to Convert
Interestingly, Kruger had previously criticized Reform UK over welfare spending.
In a Commons speech just two months ago, he warned that the party could end up in an electoral pact with the Liberal Democrats to protect welfare budgets.
Despite this, he now sees Reform as the vehicle to address what he calls the “crisis the country is in.”
Kruger did not inform Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch personally before defecting and doubted that even Jenrick could save the party.
Tory MP Jack Rankin lamented Kruger’s departure, calling him “smart, wise and good” in contrast to recent figures accepted by the party.
What’s Next for Reform UK and the Tories
Kruger said he has no insight into whether more Conservative MPs are considering joining Reform UK but expressed hope that his colleagues might follow suit.
Farage maintained a tight-lipped stance on ongoing negotiations, emphasizing secrecy and strategy.
Labour hit back quickly, with a spokeswoman asserting that every Conservative who defects “ties Nigel Farage more closely to their record of failure,” adding that recruiting Tories would not solve Reform UK’s lack of a coherent plan for Britain.
A Defection That Could Reshape the Political Landscape
Kruger’s defection is the latest in a string of shifts that reflect growing dissatisfaction within the Conservative ranks.
With his experience, high profile, and outspoken criticism of the Tories, his move to Reform UK could alter the opposition landscape in the months leading up to the next general election.