- Former Conservative MP and council leader Ben Bradley has announced his defection to Reform UK.
- Bradley has been appointed as Reform UK’s "head of local government action", with a focus on reducing council spending.
- He stated that trust in the Conservative Party "has gone" and Reform is the only party prepared to tackle pressing issues.
- Reform leader Nigel Farage defended welcoming former Conservatives, arguing the party needs experienced people but will not become "Conservative Party 2.0".
- Labour criticised the defections, with Treasury minister Torsten Bell suggesting Reform is a "rebranding of the nutty fringe of the Conservative Party".
IN FULL
