Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has declared that there is "no way back" for Conservative politicians and activists who have defected to the Reform party, branding them "drama queens" and "troublemakers." This statement comes amid suggestions that some defectors are seeking to reverse their move, reportedly prompted by a resurgence in Conservative morale and a decline in Reform's poll numbers.
Badenoch told the Mail on Sunday that many individuals who switched to Reform were previously causing internal issues within the Conservative Party. "These types of people are in every business and organisation in the country – drama queens, always moaning and causing headaches for others," she stated. "They have taken those problems with them to Reform."
Recent years have seen notable figures, including former Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick and Danny Kruger, depart the Conservatives for Reform. However, Badenoch emphasized that the party would not welcome back those who left "when the going gets tough." She asserted that the Conservatives are now more unified and focused on making difficult decisions to improve the country, characterizing those who switch parties as "weak politicians who drift wherever the wind blows."
Sources within Reform dismissed Badenoch's warning, reportedly likening her to "Captain of the Titanic" and suggesting that defectors would face a challenging job market after the general election. The comments from Badenoch follow a period of scrutiny for Reform, with leader Nigel Farage awaiting the verdict of a Commons standards inquiry into an undeclared donation and the party experiencing a recent by-election loss.