Tory MP Danny Kruger announced his defection to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK on Monday, saying “the Conservatives are ‘over’ as a party and the opposition.” He was unveiled by Mr Farage in London and given a role helping Reform prepare for forming a government should it defeat Labour at the next general election.
Kruger, the MP for East Wiltshire, made the declaration publicly on 15 September 2025. The move was reported by the Daily Mail, which said Mr Farage introduced Kruger at an event in the capital this morning. Kruger is the son of television personality Prue Leith.
Mr Farage, who leads Reform UK, presented Kruger as a recruit who will assist the party with planning for government delivery if it wins a parliamentary majority in a future election. The announcement framed Kruger’s defection as a strategic addition to Reform’s ranks rather than a routine change of party affiliation.
Kruger’s decision shifts him from the Conservative benches to a party led by one of Britain’s most prominent Eurosceptic and populist politicians. He did not outline a detailed policy agenda at the unveiling, and neither the Conservatives nor Reform UK immediately released extended statements beyond the event presentation and Kruger’s remarks.
The move comes in the context of an evolving opposition landscape in Westminster, where parties continue to position themselves ahead of the next national election. Reform UK has sought to grow its parliamentary presence since its formation and through subsequent electoral contests, while the Conservative Party has experienced a series of membership and leadership challenges in recent years.
Parliamentary defections typically require the MP to notify the Speaker and change party affiliation on the Commons register; any formal changes to committee assignments or parliamentary roles will be recorded in due course. Kruger’s constituents and local party organisation in East Wiltshire may also be affected by the shift, which could prompt local responses or changes to representation arrangements ahead of the next election.
Reporting of the defection by the Daily Mail included the details of the London unveiling and Kruger’s quoted assessment that the Conservatives were “over.” Further statements from Kruger, Reform UK or the Conservative Party are expected to clarify the practical implications of the switch and Kruger’s responsibilities within Reform’s planning team.