Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has set Westminster abuzz with a fresh claim that a "well known Labour figure" is set to defect to his party next week. This announcement follows the high-profile switch of former Conservative immigration minister Robert Jenrick earlier this week, intensifying speculation about further political realignments.
Who Could the Labour Defector Be?
Farage's careful phrasing, referring to a "Labour figure" rather than specifically an MP, suggests the potential defector could be a former parliamentarian or a peer. This narrows the field to individuals known for their socially conservative views and strong pro-Brexit stance, likely from the party's "Red Wall" or "Blue Labour" factions.
Two of the most prominent pro-Brexit Labour figures from the 2016 referendum era are now peers: Baroness Kate Hoey and Gisela Stuart. Hoey, the former Vauxhall MP, was co-chair of Labour Leave and campaigned alongside Farage. When asked by Sky News if she was the figure in question, she responded, "Not sure I'm that well known. Haven't been a Labour Party member for over eight years!" – a response that was notably non-committal.
Gisela Stuart, the former Birmingham Edgbaston MP who chaired the official Vote Leave campaign, was more direct. She emphatically denied being poised to join Reform, stating, "Thank you for the straightforward question. It deserves a straightforward answer… No."
Could More Conservatives Follow Jenrick?
While the spotlight is on Labour, questions remain about further defections from the Conservatives. Shadow cabinet member Kemi Badenoch told Sky News she was "100% confident" there would be no more defections from the Tory frontbench. However, attention turns to other figures on the party's right flank.
Suella Braverman, the fiercely right-wing former home secretary, has long been on defection watch. In 2024, she suggested the Conservatives should welcome Nigel Farage to "unite the right" – a phrase later echoed by Robert Jenrick. Her hardline views on immigration, the European Convention on Human Rights, and culture war issues align closely with Reform's platform.
Another potential candidate is Andrew Rosindell, the socially conservative and Eurosceptic MP for Romford. He has previously called Farage "a good man and a patriot" and expressed openness to a Conservative-Reform coalition. When Sky News asked if he planned to defect, he sent a cryptic photo of a dog with the caption "Who me?"
Political Fallout and Analysis
The defection of Robert Jenrick, which Farage suggested "should have been a mega moment," was arguably overshadowed by Kemi Badenoch's robust response. Political editor Beth Rigby noted that Badenoch "managed to turn what might have been a crisis moment into an opportunity" for the Conservatives.
Farage's tease of an impending Labour defection is a classic political tactic, designed to maximise media attention and sustain momentum for Reform UK. It keeps both major parties on the defensive, forcing them to scrutinise their own ranks while the political narrative remains focused on Reform's growing influence.
The coming week will reveal whether Farage's claim is substantiated. If a significant Labour name does cross the floor, it would signal that Reform's appeal is broadening beyond its traditional base of disaffected Conservative voters, potentially reshaping the political battle lines ahead of the next general election.
