UK Conservatives in Crisis as Top Defectors Flock to Rival Reform UK

**UK Conservatives in Crisis as Top Defectors Flock to Rival Reform UK** A wave of high-profile defections is rocking Britain's Conservative Party just weeks before a national election, with three senior politicians abandoning the governing party for the rival, right-wing Reform UK [59450][59458]. The most significant blow came with the departure of former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, the minister once responsible for law and order and immigration. She is the most senior Conservative to join Nigel Farage's populist party, accusing her former colleagues of having "lied" to voters about immigration [59458][59365]. In a statement announcing her move, Braverman said, "I feel like I've come home" [59322]. Her defection follows two other senior Conservative politicians who switched to Reform UK in late May, signaling deep internal turmoil and division within the party [59450]. The series of departures is a major setback for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as he campaigns for the July 4th general election [59450][59322]. Reform UK advocates for significantly reduced immigration and often criticizes what it calls "woke" culture [59450]. Its growing popularity threatens to split the center-right vote, which analysts say could hand a decisive victory to the opposition Labour Party [59450]. In response to the threat from Reform UK, two other former Conservative cabinet ministers have launched a new movement called "Prosper UK," aiming to pull the party back toward the political center [59341]. The founders argue that a strong, moderate center-right movement is essential to counter Reform's rise and address voter concerns about the economy [59341]. The Conservative Party, which has dominated British politics alongside Labour for over a century, now faces an unprecedented challenge from a surging rival on its right flank [59365]. Ex-British Minister Joins Far-Right Party, Rocking Conservatives Ex-Conservative Star Braverman Joins Rival Reform UK Ex-Home Secretary Joins Rival, Says Conservatives "Lied" on Immigration Ex-Minister Joins Rival: Braverman Defects to Populist Reform UK Tory Titans Strike Back: New Movement Aims to "Save" Conservative Party