A top Tory has said that he does not expect any more defections from his party to Reform UK after two in two days. Richard Holden, shadow transport secretary and former Conservative Party Chairman, told the Express: “I don’t foresee any.” When asked if he would switch sides, he added: “I wouldn’t.” Kemi Badenoch’s transport chief would not be drawn on why he would not become a turncoat. When asked if Nigel Farage had killed off the Tories, Mr Holden said: “I think when you’ve had former MPs who have lost their seats deciding that they’re no longer Conservatives, I think a lot can be read into that.
“The truth is, we’re years away from a general election, the party is still rebuilding from a very difficult place, and there’s a long way to go.” He added: “If I was anybody out there, I’d be wanting to know what the Conservative Party is going to offer the country, rather than what [is] going to be offered to me.
“I think that’s what I’d be waiting for at this moment in time.”
He added that it’s “hugely too early to look at this sort of thing” as regards to whether the Conservatives have a future in British politics.
Mr Holden then hit out at Mr Farage, calling his offering in relation to transport and state control to the electorate “Labour plus”.
“They’re offering what Labour are offering, plus a bit more, it feels like, when it comes to state control,” the shadow minister said.
Sitting Conservative MP Danny Kruger was unveiled as the latest high-profile politician to join Reform on Monday.
Maria Caulfield, ex-Conservative MP for Lewes in East Sussex and former health minister, defected to Nigel Farage’s party today after failing to hold her seat in last year’s general election.
Mr Kruger told a press conference that he has “no idea” whether other Conservatives MPs are in talks with Reform UK about defecting to the party, but said he hopes his former colleagues “follow me.”
Mr Kruger said: “I would hope that colleagues who share my view about the crisis the country is in and the opportunity that Reform offers to save our country.
“In terms of what conversations are under way, I have absolutely no idea, and that is best left to the leader.”
Mr Farage said: “We keep everything under wraps. When we have negotiations, nothing leaks.
“None of you had a clue that Danny would be joining us today, and that is how we operate.”