For decades, “defection” brought to mind Cold War Espionage. The word conjured up images of Philby and Maclean carrying themselves across the continent into the arms of their spymasters, or Gorievsky, spirited across the border in the boot of an MI6 car. Now, however, it is very much a Westminster term, with the flow of political turncoats increasingly common. Rather than secretive nocturnal escapades, defections are done in full view – through social media, or a full press conference, depending on how high-value you are.
This summer has seen a steady stream of switchers from the Conservatives to Reform. Danny Kurger stood out as the only sitting MP, but really, he was one of many. Around a dozen former parliamentary Conservatives made the switch. Some, like Nadine Dorries, commanded full-page spreads; others, like Henry Smith, barely garnered a footnote. As a trend, however, it starts to look important.
The rise of these defections points towards something significant happening within the right – the opportunists are seeing Reform as the winning option. It is another sign that many Conservatives are losing faith in their own party’s chances and are starting to see Reform as their only chance of electoral salvation. This is likely to speed up the erosion of the party. However, it also poses a challenge to Reform in how they balance the importation of experienced Westminster talent operators without being viewed as an outpost of Tory has-beens.
There are few things in politics as dramatic as a defection. For anyone deeply involved in politics, it is a significant step, with not just political and career implications, but also emotional ones. Leaving a party can create ruptures with friends. As an MP, it means shafting your local association and potentially your staff, people who have often thrown massive amounts of their own energy. Straight party swaps are rare, and when they happen, they can leave the person adrift, rejected by their former colleagues but never entirely welcome in their new party.
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