Former Conservative Party chairman Sir Jake Berry has defected to Reform UK, delivering a major blow to Kemi Badenoch’s Tories.
The former Northern Powerhouse minister and member of the left wing group One Nation announced he was leaving after 25 years, saying the party had “lost its way” and helped drive Britain’s decline.
He criticised the government for rising crime, uncontrolled immigration, record-high taxes, and broken levelling-up promises.
This is despite Berry supporting the same policies under the previous government.
Calling Reform the “last chance” to save the country, Berry endorsed Nigel Farage and vowed to help build Reform into the “real opposition” and future centrist government.
His move shifts Reform UK closer to centrist liberal politics.
