Suella Braverman Defects from Conservatives to Reform UK

Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman defected from the Conservative Party to Reform UK on January 26, 2026. Speaking at a Veterans for Reform rally in London, the MP for Fareham and Waterlooville resigned her 30-year party membership and the Conservative whip, citing "Tory betrayal" and "Tory lies" regarding immigration and the European Convention on Human Rights.

Braverman's move follows a wave of similar defections by sitting MPs including Robert Jenrick, Andrew Rosindell, and Nadhim Zahawi, bringing Reform UK's total in the House of Commons to eight. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage welcomed the move, suggesting the center-right of British politics must unify around his party as Reform UK leads some opinion polls ahead of the 2029 general election.

The defection sparked a controversy when the Conservative Party initially released a statement suggesting they had tried to support Braverman's mental health. Braverman responded by alleging that party leader Kemi Badenoch had previously claimed she was having a "nervous breakdown." The Conservatives later retracted the statement, describing it as a mistake. This retraction followed criticism from mental health charities and Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith, who stated it was wrong to use health issues as a political football.

While Conservative leadership dismissed the defection as a result of "personal ambition," Braverman asserted that the party should not return to power in her lifetime. Meanwhile, reports indicate the Conservatives are monitoring other potential defectors before a May 7 deadline set by Farage.