| Wayarc Daily | September 16, 2025
British politics just took a seismic turn. Danny Kruger, a prominent Conservative MP and longtime party strategist, has officially defected to Reform UK—declaring that the Conservative Party is “over” as a national force.
Kruger’s departure, announced at a press conference in London, marks the first sitting Tory MP to join Nigel Farage’s Reform movement this parliament. And insiders say he won’t be the last.
“This is my tragic conclusion: the Conservative Party is over—over as a national party, over as the principal opposition to the Left,” Kruger said.
A Blow to Badenoch’s Leadership
Kruger’s exit is a direct challenge to Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, whose leadership he described as “a strategy to disappear from public view.” His move comes just days after Badenoch told the BBC that any MPs unhappy with her direction were “welcome to leave.”
Now, senior figures within the party are reportedly weighing their options. Former Brexit negotiator Lord Frost warned:
“Many MPs on the Right will also be thinking: Maybe it’s game over for the party. Maybe it’s time for me to go too.”
Why Kruger Jumped Ship
Kruger, once a speechwriter for David Cameron and political secretary to Boris Johnson, said he had hoped the Conservatives would learn from their 2024 defeat. Instead, he saw “a year of stasis and drift” and a party clinging to centrism while voters fled.
He will now lead Reform’s “Preparing for Government Unit,” signaling Farage’s intent to position the party as a serious contender in the next general election.
“The flame of conservatism is passing from one torch to another,” Kruger said. “The best hope for conservatism and for the country is Nigel’s Reform.”
Reform’s Momentum Builds
With Kruger’s defection, Reform now holds five MPs—matching its post-election peak despite internal shakeups. Farage welcomed Kruger but warned that future defectors must “support our political principles” and not just seek refuge from sinking ships.
The move follows former culture secretary Nadine Dorries’s recent jump to Reform, declaring: “The Tory party is dead.”
What’s Next?
As the Conservative brand struggles to recover from years of internal conflict and public distrust, Reform is positioning itself as the new home for right-wing voters. Whether this marks a full-scale realignment or a temporary rebellion remains to be seen—but the stakes are rising fast.