The political landscape in Britain is shifting once again.
Just days after Danny Kruger became the first sitting Conservative MP to switch allegiances to Reform UK, another former Tory minister has made the leap, signaling that Nigel Farage’s party is on a roll.
Maria Caulfield, once a health minister and now a full-time NHS nurse, confirmed she had joined Reform UK, telling GB News, “If you are Conservative right-minded, then the future is Reform.
The country is going to change a lot.”
Farage Predicts More Defections
Farage allies are openly predicting that even Labour MPs could jump ship.
Arron Banks, the businessman behind several Reform campaigns, suggested that MPs from Labour’s ‘Red Wall’ are eyeing Farage’s party as the next home for their political careers.
At a press conference on Monday, Kruger described his move as “personally painful” but insisted the Conservative Party is “over.”
Farage added that more colleagues of Kruger would follow in his footsteps, reinforcing the sense that Reform UK’s momentum is only growing.
Reform UK Surges in the Polls
The latest YouGov survey shows Reform UK extending its lead over Labour to nine points, with 29% backing Farage’s party, compared to 20% for Labour.
This marks Labour’s joint lowest support this year.
Meanwhile, the Tories remain on 17%, unchanged, ahead of the Liberal Democrats at 15% and the Greens at 10%, down two points.
Farage’s rising profile continues to put pressure on both major parties.
Starmer Faces a Political Slump
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has seen his approval ratings slump to new lows.
A More In Common poll showed only 17% of Britons think he is doing a good job, compared with 63% who disapprove, giving him a net rating of -46.
This is worse than Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, Lib Dem leader Ed Davey, and even Farage.
The past fortnight has been particularly rough for the PM, with Angela Rayner resigning as Deputy PM over a tax dispute, Lord Mandelson sacked as ambassador to the US due to links with Jeffrey Epstein, and senior aide Paul Ovenden quitting over past derogatory comments about Diane Abbott.
Tories Struggle to Regain Trust
Badenoch acknowledged the challenges her party faces, describing it as a “rough and bumpy time” following the defections.
She emphasized that rebuilding public trust will take time after historic losses, signaling a difficult road ahead for the Conservatives.
Several former Tory MPs, including Nadine Dorries, Adam Holloway, Sir Jake Berry, Andrea Jenkyns, Marco Longhi, Ross Thomson, David Jones, Lee Anderson, and others, have already joined Reform UK, creating a growing list of high-profile defections.
Farage Calls for More Conservatives to Switch
At Reform’s recent conference in Birmingham, Dorries urged Conservative members to follow her lead, declaring “the Tory party is dead.”
Farage echoed the call, suggesting more ex-ministers will soon join the party.
With YouGov polling showing continued growth for Reform UK, and defections from both major parties, Farage’s movement is increasingly seen as a serious player in reshaping Britain’s political landscape.
The Road Ahead for Reform UK
Reform UK’s strategy seems clear: capitalize on dissatisfaction within both Conservative and Labour ranks, attract high-profile defectors, and leverage Farage’s popularity to expand influence.
The coming months could see further defections, and potentially, a dramatic reshaping of Britain’s political map.