Right-winger Danny Kruger has switched to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, declaring that the Tories are ‘over’ – as Labour accused the party of tying itself to years of Tory failure
The MP son of Great British Bake Off host Prue Leith has become Nigel Farage’s latest Reform recruit.
Right-winger Danny Kruger made the surprise switch, declaring that the Tories were “over” and said it had failed. But Labour said Mr Farage’s reliance on Conservatives jumping ship is tying him to the last Government’s record of failure.
And Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper accused Reform of “shapeshifting” in the Tories. At a press conference announcing his defection, Mr Kruger said it was “too late” to save his old party.
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He said: “The Conservative Party is over, over as a national party, over as the principal opposition to the left.” Mr Kruger went on: “The failure of the Conservative Party has created space for an alternative.
“The flame is passing from one torch to another.” He added that he hopes former colleagues “follow me”.
Mr Kruger, a hardliner who helped head the hard-right New Conservatives group, will head a new unit aimed at preparing Reform for government.
Ms Cooper said: “ Nigel Farage ’s party is shapeshifting into the Conservatives in front of our very eyes. It is getting to the point where the only difference between them is just a slightly lighter shade of blue.”
And a Labour spokeswoman said: “Every Conservative who defects to Reform ties Nigel Farage more closely to their record of failure. Nigel Farage can recruit as many failed Tories as he likes – it won’t change the fact that he has no plan for Britain.”
Mr Kruger follows former Tory MPs Nadine Dorries, Dame Andrea Jenkyns and Sir Jake Berry to Mr Farage’s team. Conservative MP Jack Rankin said: “Danny isn’t like the clowns they’ve accepted of late.
“He is smart and wise and good.” Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: “The Conservative Party has been around for a very long time, but we cannot assume that we are going to get support, we need to work for it.
“We only just lost and had a historic defeat last year. It’s going to take time for us to rebuild trust with the public, but I’m confident that we will rebuild trust.”
TV host Ms Leith has previously said she gets attacked for her son’s beliefs. She said: “All the time. Especially on evil Twitter. ‘How could you raise such a monster?’ He’s a Tory for goodness’ sake.”
Mr Farage refused to criticise Elon Musk or Tommy Robinson. The Reform leader was under pressure to distance himself from Musk’s incitement after he addressed a rally organised by far-right Robinson.
The world’s richest man warned “violence is coming” and said right-wingers could either fight or die. Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey has written to Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and Mr Farage calling on them to condemn Musk’s words.
Mr Farage told journalists: “Look, you know, he’s (Musk) been chucking abuse at me now for six months, and you want me to return the favor, don’t you? Because it’s a great headline.
“I’m just not going to do that. I’m not going to abuse Musk or Tommy Robinson or anything. We’re going to get on with building what we’re trying to build.”
In his letter Sir Ed said: “The attempts this weekend by Elon Musk to sow discord and incite violence on our streets represent a serious and dangerous interference in our democracy.”
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