Top Tory Suella Braverman Defects to Rival Reform UK, Rocking Conservatives Before July Election

Top Tory Suella Braverman Defects to Rival Reform UK, Rocking Conservatives Before July Election A string of high-profile defections has plunged Britain's governing Conservative Party into crisis just weeks before a national election, with former Home Secretary Suella Braverman becoming the latest senior figure to join the rival, right-wing Reform UK [59450][59458][59322]. Braverman, who served as the UK's top minister for law and order, announced her move in a statement, declaring, "I feel like I've come home" [59322]. Her departure is the most significant in a series of defections over the past month and deals a major blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's campaign ahead of the July 4th general election [59450][59458]. In her criticism of the Conservatives, Braverman accused her former party of having "lied" to voters about its ability to reduce immigration [59365]. She is joining Reform UK, a populist party led by Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, which advocates for significantly stricter immigration controls and often criticizes what it labels "woke" culture [59450][59458]. The defections signal deep internal turmoil and division within the Conservative Party [59458][59322]. Reform UK's growing popularity threatens to split the center-right vote, a scenario that analysts say could greatly benefit the opposition Labour Party in the upcoming election [59450]. The pressure on the Conservatives has prompted other party heavyweights to launch a new movement called "Prosper UK," aimed at pulling the party back toward the political center to counter Reform UK's influence [59341]. Ex-British Minister Joins Far-Right Party, Rocking Conservatives Ex-Conservative Star Braverman Joins Rival Reform UK Ex-Minister Joins Rival: Braverman Defects to Populist Reform UK Ex-Home Secretary Joins Rival, Says Conservatives "Lied" on Immigration Tory Titans Strike Back: New Movement Aims to "Save" Conservative Party