Conservative MP Danny Kruger defects to Reform UK, signaling shift in British politics

Danny Kruger, a sitting Conservative MP and one of the party’s more influential policy minds, defected to Reform UK on September 15, 2025, marking the first parliamentary switch of this Parliament and delivering a sharp blow to Prime Minister Kemi Badenoch’s leadership. Kruger, 50, who has served as a prominent writer and thinker within Tory circles for years, said the time had come for a new home where his beliefs about family policy, law and order, and national identity could be pursued with fewer constraints.

Kruger represents East Wiltshire and was among the Conservatives’ most recognizable intellectuals: a Cambridge- and Oxford-educated author who converted to his Christian faith in 2002 after meeting his wife Emma. He is also the son of Dame Prue Leith, the broadcaster and food writer, and he shares a close, publicly acknowledged relationship with his family, including his Cambodian adopted sister Li-Da. In this interview conducted at his west London home, Kruger described his approach to politics as one that prizes family stability, personal responsibility, and a robust state role in protecting citizens." Pebble, his yapping Jack Russell, lounged nearby as the discussion touched on his personal life and his long connection to public life.

The defection is not merely a reshuffling of the deck. Kruger’s move has immediate political ramifications for the Conservative Party, which has faced deteriorating poll numbers and internal questions about its future direction. Reform has welcomed the ex-Tory MP as a high-profile addition who could help broaden the party’s reach beyond its core supporters. Kruger is the first sitting MP to switch parties in this Parliament, and Reform officials say his joining has already buoyed the party’s profile and signaled a potential influx of like-minded lawmakers.

In announcing his departure, Kruger asserted that while Reform is a party on the rise, it also carries a credibility problem that must be addressed. He acknowledged that many voters see Reform as a fringe vehicle led by Nigel Farage, a founder of the Brexit-era movement, and that the party’s image will need to overcome that perception. “Many people don’t trust us,” he said. “They see this charismatic but Marmite figure of Nigel Farage who has never held ministerial office. They think Reform is just a protest vehicle. We have to work hard as a new party to show we have the capability.”

Kruger’s political biography is long and layered. He spent time as a speechwriter for David Cameron during his years as Opposition leader, worked at the Centre for Policy Studies, and served as political secretary to Boris Johnson for six months. He also helped steer Robert Jenrick’s leadership bid last year, an effort that underscored his ongoing interest in reforming the Conservative Party from within or beyond its traditional boundaries. Asked whether Jenrick’s leadership might have kept him within the Tory fold, Kruger suggested a broader assessment of the party’s direction and noted that Badenoch’s strategy to “go quiet” until voters are ready to listen could have limited the party’s reach. He said, however, that “the Tory Party has disappeared over the last year,” hinting at a broader erosion of faith in the party’s ability to govern.

Since the election, Reform has expanded rapidly, adding several former Conservative MPs to its ranks. Kruger estimated that the party’s local associations have grown as well, with Reform clubs reporting stronger membership than in the previous cycle. In Kruger’s view, the party must resist becoming a lifeboat for disaffected Conservatives and instead present a coherent right-leaning program built on trust, patriotism, and practical policy outcomes. He emphasized that Reform is a party with appeal to a wider audience, including voters who feel abandoned by Labour’s approach to national identity and security.

On policy, Kruger laid out a slate of reforms centered on families, national security, and immigration. He argued for tax incentives for families and a safety net that emphasizes responsibility over dependency, the abolition of inheritance tax for family farms, the prioritization of British values in schools, and substantial reductions in immigration. He asserted that illegal migration would be addressed through detention centers and rapid deportation, noting that while he had not yet identified exact facility locations, the policy was in “serious planning.”

He also signaled a willingness to challenge long-standing constitutional frameworks, saying Reform would pursue substantial reform of the country’s legal framework for immigration and asylum. He proposed overturning the 1998 Human Rights Act, which integrated the European Convention on Human Rights into domestic law, and he suggested a potential rethink of the 1951 Refugee Convention. “We will overturn it,” Kruger insisted, describing these steps as essential to restoring a sense of order and national sovereignty.

On policing and justice, Kruger advocated putting police back on the streets and enlarging the prison estate to curb reoffending through rehabilitation. He noted that rehabilitation has been a central concern in his own life and charitable work; he and his wife Emma co-founded the charity Only Connect, which aims to prevent offending. His stance on criminal justice includes debates about arming officers and increasing on-the-ground capacity rather than relying solely on digital enforcement. He stressed that reforms should be paired with practical programs to reduce crime and rebuild public trust in law enforcement.

The interview also touched on culture and media policy. Kruger questioned the sustainability of the BBC license fee and suggested broader questions about the balance between free speech and protections for young people in the era of social media. He indicated that Reform would pursue a careful, evidence-based approach to media regulation, while avoiding libertarian excesses. He also acknowledged the challenge of smartphone use among his own children and described a cautious approach to digital life at home, showing how personal experience informs policy.

Despite his public skepticism about Reform’s image, Kruger said he did not seek a ministerial post and did not expect an offer from Farage. He also rejected the notion that he joined Reform to secure a direct route to the Prime Minister’s Office, insisting that any leader would have to “earn the right to do it” and that public respect for MPs must be earned through steady, capable leadership. In reflecting on his own trajectory, he named Iain Duncan Smith as “the best Prime Minister we never had,” highlighting a link to mainstream Conservative reformers who emphasized welfare and work incentives—an ethos he hopes to carry into Reform’s future program.

Kruger’s defection has immediate implications for the Conservatives, already grappling with a projected decline in popularity ahead of the next general election. He acknowledged that the party’s current trajectory is unsustainable and suggested that Reform can offer a credible center-right alternative focused on family policy, national security, and a firm stance on borders. Whether Kruger’s presence in Reform will attract other high-profile defectors remains to be seen, but his decision has underscored a broader debate within conservative politics about the party’s future identity and its ability to govern.“If as an MP you don’t think you can possibly do the job of Prime Minister you shouldn’t be an MP,” Kruger said, a refrain that will likely echo in party discussions for some time.

As Kruger begins work on Reform’s policy program, observers will watch how his influence shapes the party’s platform and whether his high-profile profile as a Conservative thinker translates into electoral momentum. For now, his departure marks a defining moment in British political realignment and signals that Reform’s push to establish itself as a governing force on the right is not merely a protest movement but a serious bid for legitimacy in national politics.