Conservative MP Danny Kruger defects to Reform UK in historic party shift

Danny Kruger, a veteran Conservative MP whose career has long intertwined with the party’s policy debates, announced on Sept. 15, 2025, that he has defected to Reform UK, becoming the first sitting MP to switch parties this Parliament. The move, disclosed at a press conference with Reform leader Nigel Farage, signals a breakthrough for Reform as it expands its parliamentary presence and aims to appeal to voters disenchanted with the governing party. Kruger, who represents East Wiltshire, sought to frame the shift as a principled step toward a different conservatism rather than a personal grievance, saying the Conservative Party is over and that conservatism is not. He noted Reform’s aim to demonstrate practical capability beyond protest politics as the party grooms a broader policy program.

Kruger’s defection comes as Reform has been steadily growing its ranks, adding a number of former Conservative MPs since the last general election. In East Wiltshire, Kruger won last year’s election with a 5,000-vote majority, a result that underlines the fragility of traditional Tory strongholds in parts of southern England as the party’s national polling languishes. Local dynamics have shifted: Tory association membership in the area has slumped by about a third since 2019, while Reform has attracted more than 1,000 local members. Kruger acknowledged the personal burden his move places on supporters and staff but said he would work with new colleagues to deliver reform at the constituency level.

Kruger arrived at the press conference with his dog Pebble, a constant presence in public commentary and as a reminder of his long-standing preoccupation with family life. The 50-year-old former Tory figure has spent years in policy and political communications roles, including stints as a speechwriter for David Cameron during the Opposition years, work with the Centre for Policy Studies, and a six-month period as political secretary to Boris Johnson. He later ran Robert Jenrick’s leadership campaign for the party, and he has been vocal about the need to refresh the Conservative brand while embracing reforms that appeal to a broader electorate. Kruger’s departure is a political blow to party leadership at a time when Conservative MPs face a difficult national climate.

In a wide-ranging interview conducted prior to his switch, Kruger outlined Reform’s core policy priorities. He pressed for tax incentives to support families and a safety net that emphasizes responsibility over dependency, including a plan to scrap inheritance tax for family farms. He also signaled a hard line on illegal immigration, describing Reform’s strategy as one that would detain irregular entrants and deport them promptly, while acknowledging that the plan to identify detention-site locations was still to be determined. He suggested that Britain should reassess its place in international human-rights instruments, stating that Reform would overturn the Human Rights Act and, more broadly, reexamine the 1951 Refugee Convention.

On domestic policy, Kruger emphasized the need for stronger policing and expanded prison capacity, arguing that rehabilitation should be central to reducing reoffending. He noted his collaboration with his wife, Emma, who co-founded the charity Only Connect, which supports offender rehabilitation programs. The couple’s shared commitment to social reform has long shaped Kruger’s approach to public service, including his views on how government should support families and tackle crime. He also touched on the media landscape, saying there were important questions about the BBC Charter and the £174.50 annual licence fee, while stopping short of pledging a specific course of action pending Reform’s policy review.

Asked about the party’s image and leadership, Kruger acknowledged that Reform faces skepticism from voters who associate it with Nigel Farage’s high-profile persona rather than with proven ministerial experience. He argued that Reform must demonstrate capability through policy delivery and institutional reform, while recognizing that some voters remain wary of a party formed around a prominent political figure rather than a long record in government. He also described Reform as a party of the Right with cross-appeal to people on the Left who value national pride and social cohesion, warning against treating Reform as merely a protest vehicle.

Kruger’s decision followed a long period of internal reflection and discussions with colleagues and family. He recounted conversations with his mother, Dame Prue Leith, a cultural figure famous for her work on television and in the culinary world, who is supportive of her son even as she stays out of party politics. The interview also touched on Kruger’s own upbringing and values, including his Christian faith—an element that has shaped his public stances on issues such as assisted dying, which he opposed when the matter was debated in Parliament. Kruger described the personal and professional balance he seeks between public service and family life, noting his children’s education and their experiences of culture and the arts as part of shaping his worldview.

The timing of Kruger’s move has raised questions about the political landscape ahead of the next general election. While Reform insists it is building governance-ready capacity, observers will be watching whether Kruger’s presence can help the party translate protest energy into credible policy leadership. Kruger himself suggested that leadership ambitions should be earned rather than assumed, and he indicated that no ministerial appointment had been offered by Farage at the time of the defection. Still, he left open the possibility that reform-minded MPs could rise to influential roles if they demonstrate a commitment to implementing a coherent policy agenda that resonates with voters who feel left behind by the status quo.

As Kruger begins work on Reform’s policy program, the party is presenting a programmatic alternative that emphasizes family stability, border controls, and a tougher stance on crime. Whether this blueprint will translate into a durable electoral breakthrough remains unresolved, but Kruger’s move has already energized Reform’s national profile and underscored the dissonance within the governing party over its direction. The broader implications for Conservative unity, Reform’s capacity to absorb high-profile defectors, and the prospects for any realignment in British politics will unfold in the weeks and months ahead as the new arrangement takes shape across constituencies and local party organizations.