Blow for Badenoch as one other Tory defector joins Farage’s Reform | EUROtoday

Conservative MP and shadow overseas minister Andrew Rosindell has adopted Robert Jenrick and defected to Reform UK in yet one more blow for Kemi Badenoch.

It comes simply days after the previous shadow justice secretary give up the Tories to hitch Nigel Farage’s ranks, launching a blistering assault on his former get together.

Mr Rosindell, who cited the Conservative Party’s place over the Chagos Islands as his most important purpose for defecting, argued that Reform UK is now “the only political movement that is genuinely willing to fight for the best interests of the United Kingdom”.

He stated a “clear red line” for him was “the failure of the Conservative Party both when in government and more recently in opposition to actively hold the government to account on the issue of Chagossian self-determination and the defence of British sovereignty”.

The Romford MP additionally claimed the Tories have been “irreparably bound to the mistakes of previous governments and unwilling to take meaningful accountability for the poor decisions” they made.

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He added: “The views and concerns of the majority of the British people must no longer be sidelined. Our country has endured a generation of managed decline.

“Radical action is now required to reverse the damaging decisions of the past and to forge a new course for Britain – one that firmly places the interests of the British people first.”

The newest Tory defection comes after Mr Farage insisted over the weekend that Reform was “not a rescue charity for every panicky Tory MP”. He warned that any potential defectors must admit publicly that the earlier Conservative authorities “broke the country”.

Announcing Mr Rosindell’s defection, the Reform chief stated: “Andrew is a great patriot. The Tories’ lies and hypocrisy over the Chagos Islands betrayal has tipped him over the edge, and we are delighted to welcome him to our ranks.

“He will be a great addition to our team ahead of the elections on May 7th.”

Mr Rosindell was first elected in 2001 however it’s understood he had requested associates as early as final Autumn whether or not it was time to defect to Reform.

One sticking level was understood to be the destiny of “Margaret Thatcher House”, his headquarters in Romford formally opened by Baroness Thatcher whose reminiscence Mr Rosindell was dedicated to.

Last week, Mr Jenrick defected to Reform UK after he was dramatically sacked from the Conservative entrance bench and kicked out of the Tory get together.

Launching a unprecedented assault on his former colleagues at a press convention in Westminster, the previous shadow justice secretary stated the get together had “betrayed its voters and members” and was “in denial – or being dishonest” about its document.

He stated he was becoming a member of Reform UK as a result of the Conservatives underneath Kemi Badenoch had failed to alter after their 2024 election wipeout, arguing that the nation now wants Nigel Farage.

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In the times after Mr Jenrick’s defection, the Conservatives positioned 11 of their MPs on a defection watch checklist amid fears extra may comply with him to Reform UK – a listing which featured Mr Rosindell.

Responding to the information of his defection, a senior Tory supply informed The Independent: “Rosindell had been threatening to defect for months, denying it was happening as recently as Saturday. Kemi said Farage was doing her spring cleaning, and this is another prime example.

“The Conservative Party supported Rosindell throughout his many troubles, and he’s responded by stabbing his friends, colleagues and activists in the back. Reform are welcome to him. We’re not going to be distracted from holding this disastrous Labour government to account.”

Another supply near the management added: “We had a duty of care to a very troubled man but now he is Nigel’s problem.”

Figures contained in the get together at the moment are satisfied that former house secretary Suella Braverman could possibly be subsequent to leap ship to Reform.

In the wake of Mr Jenrick’s defection, Mrs Badenoch had tried to minimize speak of additional MPs quitting the get together, insisting that “pretty much all of Rob’s former supporters have come to me and said sorry”.

She additionally advised that his determination to give up the get together would deliver stability to the Tories, telling The Times: “We have been destabilised for too long, the traitors are Farage’s problem now, not mine. He’ll have to watch out.”

When Mr Jenrick was requested if he is aware of what number of Conservative colleagues will comply with him to Mr Farage’s get together, he informed the BBC: “I have no idea, and I haven’t spoken to colleagues or asked them to do so.”

The Reform chief, who has stated his get together won’t settle for any extra defectors after native elections are held on 7 May, wrote within the Telegraph over the weekend: “Any Conservative MP who still clings to the hope that their party can recover and waits until May 8 to try to leave the sinking ship does not understand how rapidly things are changing out in the country.

“Trying to make use of Reform as a lifeboat to avoid wasting their very own political skins won’t wash. We have little interest in rescuing political failures.”

But responding to Mr Rosindell’s defection, Labour Party chair Anna Turley stated the “stench of a failed and dying Tory Party now engulfs Reform”.

“The Conservatives left public services on their knees, and Nigel Farage is now unconditionally trying to rehabilitate their disastrous record. The public won’t be fooled: the Tories failed Britain and Reform want to do it all over again”, she stated.