Maria Caulfield, a former Conservative minister, has joined Nigel Farage's Reform UK party, becoming the 15th ex-Tory MP to sign up as the national party faces a growing wave of departures.
Caulfield, who lost her Lewes seat to the Liberal Democrats in last year's general election after nearly nine years in Parliament, told GB News she joined Reform a month ago because the Conservative Party had become "less and less what I believe in." Reform UK confirmed her membership on Tuesday. The BBC has sought comment from Caulfield.
"If you are Conservative right-minded, then the future is Reform. The country is going to change a lot," Caulfield said in the GB News interview. She added that "the same people who thought that Brexit would not happen think that Reform will not happen. They are in for a shock." She said Reform needed "a lot of experience of people who know the system and can talk about this."
Caulfield's move follows Monday's defection by Danny Kruger, a sitting Conservative MP who resigned the whip to join Reform — the first serving Tory to do so. Together, the departures mark a notable shift for Reform, which has steadily attracted former Conservative figures since the last general election.
A Brexit supporter, Caulfield resigned from her role as Conservative vice chair in 2018 in protest at then-prime minister Theresa May's Chequers plan for a softer withdrawal from the European Union. She served in a number of junior ministerial roles, including as a health minister, and was appointed minister for women by May in 2018. Her appointment that year drew criticism from some women's groups because of her opposition to decriminalising abortion.
Caulfield's defection to Reform comes after she lost her parliamentary seat in 2024. Reform has sought to position itself as the political home for disaffected Conservatives who believe the party has drifted from Brexit-era commitments and tougher stances on migration and public spending.
Reform's growing roster of former Conservative MPs highlights internal strains on the centre-right in Britain and raises questions about party realignment as the country prepares for the next electoral cycle. Political analysts in Britain have increasingly discussed whether Reform can convert defections and public discontent into sustained electoral support; the party's performance will be scrutinised by commentators and rivals alike.
Observers beyond Britain are also likely to watch the evolution of Reform and the Tory exodus for possible parallels with party fragmentation and populist currents elsewhere. In several democracies, shifts within established centre-right parties have produced new political formations or altered traditional coalitions, and such developments often draw interest from international political analysts.
For now, Reform has welcomed Caulfield and other former Conservatives as the party seeks to broaden its experience and profile ahead of future contests. Caulfield said she was "sad for the Conservative Party" but believed her personal views remained unchanged while the party moved away from them. The BBC and other outlets continue to monitor further developments among Conservative ranks and responses from party leadership.