From Conservative Rising Star to Reform UK Defector
Danny Kruger, the former Conservative MP for East Wiltshire, has sent shockwaves through British politics with his defection to Reform UK. In an exclusive interview, the 51-year-old politician revealed the reasoning behind his dramatic move away from the party he once served as a frontbencher and speechwriter for David Cameron.
Kruger, educated at Eton and Oxford, was considered a rising star within Conservative circles with a glittering future ahead. His decision to join Nigel Farage's party caught political commentators completely off-guard, particularly given his safe Tory seat and untarnished reputation compared to other defectors like Andrea Jenkyns and Nadine Dorries.
The 'Top Dog' Theory and Farage's Appeal
When pressed on why a serious Conservative would defect to Reform UK, Kruger offered a surprising explanation. "Humans are pack animals," he stated. "You need to know who top dog is, otherwise the other dogs fight each other. That's what we get in Tory and Labour. Because there's a weakness at the top."
This blunt assessment reveals Kruger's view that Nigel Farage's leadership was the primary draw. He now heads Reform's department for preparing for government and insists the party has evolved from being "basically one man and an iPhone" to "one man with a very professional setup."
Kruger described his decision as "a gathering conclusion, which crystallised in August" after walking the fields around his Wiltshire home and taking calls from Reform contacts. Among these was James Orr, a Cambridge divinity don who now officially advises Reform and has been described as JD Vance's "intellectual mentor."
Controversial Views on Family, Flags and Society
The interview uncovered several of Kruger's controversial positions that align with Reform's philosophy. On the subject of flags appearing across British villages, he defended the practice as "a pacific way of asserting identity and belonging" and a response to what he sees as "fear and insecurity in society."
When challenged that flag-waving might be an import from Trump's America, Kruger made the startling claim that "America is British", arguing that American political culture derives from British models.
Kruger expressed particularly strong views on family policy, stating that "we have a fiscal system that rewards and incentivises family breakdown" and advocating for policies that benefit traditional family structures. Despite describing himself as a Christian who doesn't judge others, he believes the state should create frameworks encouraging people to "settle down with one partner, live with them for the rest of their lives, bring children up together."
Startling Theories and Political Vision
Kruger shared several unconventional theories during the interview, including his view that "heaven is a socialist state" and that socialists mistakenly try to create heaven on Earth with the state in God's position.
On environmental issues, he described Sir David Attenborough as "essentially anti-human" for believing "it will be better if human beings didn't exist."
Regarding abortion, Kruger maintained that women don't have absolute bodily autonomy and expressed concern about birth rates, stating "so many women are not having children - that's a problem" and warning that "we are basically disappearing."
Personal Background and Political Future
Kruger comes from a notable family - his mother is Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith, while his late father Rayne Kruger was an author. He revealed that his parents had an affair that resulted in his birth, and his wife Emma was raised by a single mother after her father died when she was five.
Despite these personal experiences, Kruger maintains his position on traditional family values. He converted to Christianity in his 20s after his wife gave him a copy of CS Lewis's Mere Christianity and is now a committed member of the Church of England, though he finds its leadership too left-wing.
Looking ahead, Kruger acknowledges the risk to his political career, admitting his seat was "at risk either way" given Reform's fourth-place finish in East Wiltshire in 2024. He also concedes that if Farage were to "fall under a bus tomorrow", it would be a "terrible thought" for the party.
Despite these challenges, Kruger says he's "curiously at peace" with his decision to defect, describing it as a philosophical alignment with Reform's vision for Britain that outweighs the practical risks to his political future.
