UK Conservatives in Turmoil as Top Ministers Defect to Rival Reform UK

UK Conservatives in Turmoil as Top Ministers Defect to Rival Reform UK A wave of high-profile defections is rocking Britain's Conservative Party just weeks before a national election, as senior politicians abandon the long-ruling group for a populist rival. Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, the country's former top law-and-order minister, has left the Conservatives to join Reform UK, a party led by Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage [59450]. Her move is the most significant in a series of departures, with at least two other senior Conservatives having joined Reform since late May [59450]. In a statement announcing her defection, Braverman said she felt she had "come home" [59322]. She accused the Conservative Party of having "lied" to the public about its ability to reduce immigration [59365]. Her departure is seen as a major blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and signals deep internal divisions as the party faces a difficult general election on July 4 [59458][59322]. Reform UK is described by political experts as a right-wing, populist movement that advocates for significantly reduced immigration and often criticizes "woke" culture [59450]. The party is challenging the Conservatives for voters who want stricter immigration controls and different economic policies [59458]. The defections have triggered a response from other Conservative heavyweights. Former cabinet ministers Simon Clarke and Priti Patel have launched a new movement called "Prosper UK," aiming to pull the party back toward the political center and counter Reform UK's growing influence [59341]. Opinion polls currently show Reform UK leading both the governing Conservatives and the opposition Labour Party, raising the prospect that it could split the center-right vote and help Labour win the upcoming election [59365][59450]. 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