British politics is buzzing again after two high-profile former Conservatives sparked talk of potential defections to Reform UK. Suella Braverman, the ex-Home Secretary, and Lord Frost, former chief Brexit negotiator, are set to appear at a press conference this Thursday with Richard Tice, Reform UK’s deputy leader.
The appearance has fueled speculation about whether more senior Tories are ready to jump ship.
Braverman Denies She’s Leaving
Despite the rumors, a spokesperson for Mrs Braverman, MP for Fareham and Waterlooville, dismissed suggestions that she will defect.
“Suella is not defecting,” they said, emphasizing that her focus is on releasing a new policy paper on leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
The paper, they added, will explore the legal and political implications of such a move.
Lord Frost has confirmed he will join Braverman and Tice at the London press event, describing it as a platform to launch her ECHR paper.
Mr Tice himself posted on X/Twitter: “Tomorrow at 10am I will be sharing a press conference with @DavidGHFrost and @SuellaBraverman. Don’t miss it!”
Past Hints of Defection
Braverman has previously not ruled out leaving the Conservatives for Reform.
In a Telegraph podcast last week, she said: “We can’t ignore the polls. Reform is doing very well at the moment.”
Her husband, Rael Braverman, was previously a member of Reform before stepping down in July amid criticism of his wife’s immigration policies during her time at the Home Office.
Lord Frost has also kept his options open. On the Planet Normal podcast in May, he admitted he was “not emotionally committed” to the Tories and criticized the party for failing to learn from their general election losses last year.
Tory Leadership Responds
A spokesman for Tory leader Kemi Badenoch downplayed the event, saying: “Suella is a backbencher, she is welcome to do events as are Labour backbenchers.”
Regarding the ECHR, the spokesman added that any decision would be part of a fully considered plan, noting that Lord Wolfson’s report will be published ahead of the party conference to clarify the party’s official stance.
Reform UK Eyes More Former Ministers
Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, has been gaining attention after Nadine Dorries, former Culture Secretary, joined the party at its conference in Birmingham last weekend.
Farage encouraged other former Tory ministers to follow suit, acknowledging that Reform’s main weakness is its lack of government experience.
Other ex-Tories, including Adam Holloway, Sir Jake Berry, Andrea Jenkyns, Marco Longhi, Ross Thomson, David Jones, and Lee Anderson, have already joined Reform.
Meanwhile, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg has offered to advise Reform in the event of a future government, though he insists he will not be defecting himself—even though his teenage daughter Mary has joined the party.
The Stakes for the Conservatives
Braverman and Frost’s Thursday appearance puts the spotlight on internal Tory divisions and raises questions about the future direction of the party.
With Reform UK positioning itself as an alternative for disillusioned Conservatives, the coming weeks could prove pivotal for both parties as the next general election looms.