Tory MP Andrew Rosindell defects to Reform UK

Andrew Rosindell Defects from Conservatives to Reform UK

Andrew Rosindell has resigned from the Conservative Party to join Reform UK. According to the MP for Romford and former shadow minister, the Conservatives are "irreparably tied to previous governments" and have failed to take "meaningful responsibility" for past failures.

Rosindell confirmed he spoke with Nigel Farage on Sunday evening before making his final decision. In a surprising turn of phrase, the Reform UK leadership welcomed him as a "great patriot" and a "fantastic addition to the team." However, Conservative sources dismissed the move, suggesting that Reform was "welcome to him" and describing the defection as part of a "spring cleaning" of the Tory party under Kemi Badenoch.

A Growing List of Defections

Rosindell’s departure follows that of Robert Jenrick, who joined Reform UK on Thursday shortly after being dismissed from the Shadow Cabinet. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), the 59-year-old MP—who has represented Romford since 2001—claimed that the concerns of his constituents have been "consistently ignored for far too long."

"Our country has suffered through a decade of managed decline. To reverse the disastrous decisions of the past and establish a new course for the United Kingdom, drastic action is now required."

With Rosindell’s move, Reform UK now has seven MPs in the House of Commons, including three who were elected as Conservatives. This puts their numbers on par with Sinn Féin (who do not take their seats) and just two behind the SNP.

Reaction from Westminster

The Conservative frontbench has reacted with hostility to the news. Shadow Welsh Minister Mims Davies told BBC Radio 4’s Westminster Hour that the defections were "self-serving and completely wrong."

• Conservative View: Mims Davies argued that Reform’s policies are "populist" and "left-wing" in certain areas, suggesting that defectors are more concerned with their own careers than fixing the country.

• Labour View: Labour Party Chair Anna Turley stated that the "stench of a failed and dying Tory Party now engulfs Reform," accusing Nigel Farage of trying to "recycle" a shaky track record.

• Lib Dem View: A Liberal Democrat source described the move as a "change of rosette for a career politician concerned about a P45."

Reasons for the Split

Rosindell cited several policy failures as his motivation for leaving, specifically highlighting the recent decision regarding the Chagos Islands and the Conservative Party’s failure to hold the current Labour government to account. While sovereignty negotiations actually began under Conservative rule in 2022, Rosindell argued his old party was "not radical enough" to address Britain's modern challenges.

Farage's Stance

Nigel Farage has clarified that Reform UK will not become a "lifeboat for Conservative MPs" or a "Tory Party 2.0." He indicated that after a certain point, the party may stop accepting further defections to focus on its own distinct identity ahead of local and national elections.

Kemi Badenoch, meanwhile, remained defiant, writing in The Telegraph that a movement based on "serial disloyalty is doomed to fail" and that the Conservative Party is better off without those who "destroy" party unity.