After Nadhim Zahawi became the 22nd former Tory MP to defect to Reform UK, GB News reveals the 13-strong list of potential targets in Nigel Farage’s sights.
Speaking at today’s press conference in Westminster, the Reform UK leader hinted at further defections to trickle in throughout the year.
He said: “There are plenty of people in the Conservative Party currently talking to me and some might fit and some might not fit.
“But they can all see that May 7 is an absolutely pivotal moment after which there is a strong chance that the Conservative Party after its couple of hundred years will cease to be a national political party, hence some of the conversations that are going on.”
However, Mr Farage also admitted Reform UK has rejected some wannabe defectors.
The Reform UK leader told reporters: “That is a very good question.
“Have we said no to people? Yes, we have. I’m not going to tell you [who], for goodness sake … We want people who believe in what we’re doing.”
Reform UK’s defection deluge started all the way back in March 2024, with Lee Anderson switching from the Tories after having the Conservative whip suspended for claiming Islamists have taken control of London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan.
Ex-Tory MPs Lucy Allan, Mark Reckless, Andrea Jenkyns, Aidan Burley and David Jones followed suit later in 2024.
Marco Longhi, Ross Thomson, Anne Marie Morris, Sir Jake Berry, Adam Holloway, Nadine Dorries, Maria Caulfield, Sarah Atherton, Jonathan Gullis, Lia Nici and Chris Green joined last year.
However, Mr Zahawi’s defection is the most high-profile since current MP Danny Kruger switched to Reform UK in September 2025.
Mr Kruger, who is now leading Reform UK’s Whitehall preparation operation, is expected to work closely with Mr Zahawi.
But who are the 13 top Tories still on defection watch?
Robert Jenrick
Age: 44
Seat: Newark – 2014 to present
Result in 2024: Won by 3,572 votes (Reform UK received 8,280 votes)
Political high point: Migration Minister and former Tory leadership contender
What have they said about Nigel Farage and Reform UK?
There has been speculation that Reform UK insiders think Robert Jenrick could be close to defecting to Reform UK, particularly if the ambitious MP’s leadership ambitions are thwarted. A Reform source told The Times: “It’s not going to happen soon. But the best thing for Robert, and for Nigel, would be if they joined forces sometime between now and the next election. Robert clearly wants to, and he’d put himself in a strong position to go to the Treasury as chancellor if he did.” However, Mr Jenrick has dismissed the prospect of working closely with Mr Farage. “It wasn’t very long ago that I was running to be leader of the Conservative Party so I’m not going anywhere,” the Shadow Justice Secretary said.
Suella Braverman
Age: 45
Seat: Fareham & Waterlooville – 2015 to present
Result in 2024: Won by 6,079 votes (Reform UK received 9,084 votes)
Political high point: Home Secretary and former Tory leadership contender
What have they said about Nigel Farage and Reform UK?
The former Home Secretary, whose husband Rael supports Reform UK, heaped praise on Nigel Farage just last month, hailing the Clacton MP as “courageous” and labelling him as the “heretic” she most admires. However, there has been speculation about Mrs Braverman joining Reform UK for months and she is yet to cross the floor.
Andrew Rosindell
Age: 59
Seat: Romford
Result in 2024: Won by 1,463 votes (Reform UK received 9,624 votes)
Political high point: Trade Envoy and national anthem campaigner
What have they said about Nigel Farage and Reform UK?
Andrew Rosindell, who was snapped alongside Reform councillor Russell Quirk ahead of the Conservative Party Conference, refused to rule out defecting. He instead told GB News: “I don’t see Reform as our enemies. It’s a split on the right, and we need to come together.”
Sir John Hayes
Age: 67
Seat: South Holland & The Deepings
Result in 2024: Won by 6,856 votes (Reform UK received 10,606 votes)
Political high point: Transport Minister and leading figure in the Common Sense Group
What have they said about Nigel Farage and Reform UK?
Sir John Hayes said: “I am flattered that people are clamouring to get me to join them and I suppose that I should take that as a compliment that they are desperate to have me. But I was elected a Conservative MP and that’s what I intend to stay. My views and Reforms over lap to a huge degree but I was elected as a Conservative MP and people would expect me to stay that way.”
Lord Frost
Age: 60
Seat: House of Lords
Result in 2024: NA
Political high point: Brexit Minister
What have they said about Nigel Farage and Reform UK?
Lord Frost has long called for closer ties between top Tories and Nigel Farage. Back in 2023, the ex-Brexit negotiator labelled the now-Reform UK leader a “natural part of the Conservative movement. Speaking at the Conservative Party Conference in October, Lord Frost called on Tory MPs to “stop rubbishing Reform”.
Mark Pritchard
Age: 59
Seat: The Wrekin
Result in 2024: Won by 883 votes (Reform UK received 9,920 votes)
Political high point: Had a huge row with then-Speaker John Bercow
What have they said about Nigel Farage and Reform UK?
Back in 2014, Mark Pritchard said: “There was a time when I seriously considered it [joining Ukip].” However, when asked about any potential defection in July 2024, The Wrekin MP told GB News: “Nigel and I have known each other for years. There is not much to report, given our usual discussions, to date, have normally centred around our mutual love of cigars.”
Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg
Age: 56
Seat: North East Somerset & Hanham
Result in 2024: Lost to Labour by 5,319 votes (Reform UK received 7,424 votes)
Political high point: Business Secretary
What have they said about Nigel Farage and Reform UK?
Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg has been an ally to Nigel Farage for more than a decade. He attended Reform UK’s conference in September, later swerving the Conservative Party’s bonanza in Manchester. Sir Jacob’s 16-year-old daughter, Mary, has already defected to Reform. She told GB News: “Reform has all the momentum. I was very loyal to the Tories, but I met Nigel while doing work experience, and he had so much energy, so much passion, and I thought, this is a leader. However, Sir Jacob insisted: “I’m going to remain a Tory because I think it is fundamental that we bring the family of the right together.”
Brendan Clarke-Smith
Age: 45
Seat: Bassetlaw – 2019 to 2024
Result in 2024:: Lost to Labour by 5,768 votes (Reform UK received 9,751 votes)
Political high point: Cabinet Minister
What have they said about Nigel Farage and Reform UK?
“There’s more chance of me joining Westlife than Reform UK,” the then-Bassetlaw MP said in March 2024.
Tom Hunt
Age: 36
Seat: Ipswich 2019 to 2024
Result in 2024: Lost to Labour by 7,403 votes (Reform UK received 7,027 votes)
Political high point: Covid Recovery Group and Common Sense Group
What have they said about Nigel Farage and Reform UK?
Just weeks before the 2024 General Election, Tom Hunt said: “I will be standing as the Conservative candidate for Ipswich at the forthcoming General Election.
“It’s regrettable that we aren’t on the same side as Nigel Farage and Richard Tice.
“Ultimately we share many of the same views and concerns about the country and the impact that mass migration is having upon it.”
Nick Fletcher
Age: 53
Seat: Don Valley – 2019 to 2024
Result in 2024: Lost to Labour by 2,311 (Reform UK received 8,847 votes)
Political high point: Voted against censuring Boris Johnson after the Privileges Committee’s report and stood unsuccessfully as Mayor of Doncaster
What have they said about Nigel Farage and Reform UK?
Despite slamming Reform UK during his campaign to become Mayor of Doncaster, Nick Fletcher said: “There’s four years between now and the General Election. I do believe, at some point, there will be some work done between the Conservative Party and Reform.”
Robin Millar
Age: 56
Seat: Aberconwy – 2019 to 2024
Result in 2024: Finished third, trailing first-place Labour by 4,972 votes (Reform UK received 6,091 votes)
Political high point: Headed up the Conservative Union Research Unit and served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales
What have they said about Nigel Farage and Reform UK?
After losing his seat in the 2024 General Election, Robin Millar said that he “bore no ill will” to Reform UK candidates who “saw an opportunity and took it”.
Mr Millar also accused the Conservative Party of failing to move to the Right, creating a disconnect between Tory voters and MPs.
Jane Stevenson
Age: 54
Seat: Wolverhampton North East – 2019 to 2024
Result in 2024: Lost to Labour by 5,422 votes (Reform UK received 7,721 votes)
Political high point: Resigned as a Junior Minister to rebel on an amendment to the Safety of Rwanda Bill
What have they said about Nigel Farage and Reform UK?
Speaking shortly after the 2025 Local Elections, Jane Stevenson told GB News: “I think when Kemi shows she’s fighting, she’s got real grit and proper conservative principles.”
Damien Moore
Age: 45
Seat: Southport – 2017 to 2024
Result in 2024: Lost to Labour by 5,789 votes (Reform UK received 7,395 votes)
Political high point: Assistant Government Whip
What have they said about Nigel Farage and Reform UK?
Following defeat in the 2024 General Election, Damien Moore blamed Rishi Sunak rather than Nigel Farage for the Conservative Party’s catastrophic defeat.
He said: “Many of those who voted for me in the past say they’ve liked me personally – but they think the real main plank was the lack of leadership on the issue of illegal immigration.”
Responding to Mr Zahawi’s defection, a Conservative Party spokesman said: “Reform is fast becoming the party of has-been politicians looking for their next gravy train.
“Their latest recruit used to say he’d be ‘frightened to live in a country’ run by Nigel Farage, which shows the level of loyalty for sale.
”Reform want higher welfare spending and higher taxes.
“They are a one-man band with no plan for our country.
“Under Kemi Badenoch, the Conservatives are demonstrating we have the plan, the competence and the team to get Britain working again.”
Mr Zahawi fired back by claiming Mrs Kemi Badenoch had reached out to ask for his advice shortly before his defection.
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