Kruger defects to Reform

By Lily Hatch

On the 15th of September 2025, Conservative front bencher and Tory shadow minister for Work and Pensions, Danny Kruger, announced his defection to Reform UK. Kruger has a significant history with the Conservative Party, having been with them for over 20 years, working as principal speechwriter to David Cameron and Political Secretary to Boris Johnson, before becoming an elected MP in 2019. Whilst there have been multiple Tory defections already, Kruger marks the first currently serving Tory MP to defect since Reform overtook the Conservative party in the polls, predicted to supersede them in the next general election. 

Having been a high-ranking and well respected member of the Conservative party, the defection has raised many significant questions, from both sides of the trade off. Considering Kruger’s prestige with the Tory’s, how close does Nigel Farage wish to associate himself with the former governing party, despite his harsh condemnations of their tenure in office? What has changed, what could this mean for the Conservatives, and how important is this transition?

Whilst Kruger’s decision may seem drastic, it has not come as a total surprise to many. As reflected by the polls, Reforms popularity has skyrocketed in recent months, on a steady increase since the 2024 general election in July of last year. As the nation begins to defect towards reform, it would be natural to see such an occurrence happening within parliament itself, as the House of Commons is intended to be a representation of the ideological makeup of the country. However, it is worth mentioning that whilst reform has gained two new MPs since the general election, they have also lost two. Of the originally five elected in July of 2024, James McMurdock and Rupert Lowe have made the decision to leave reform, with McMurdock becoming an independent MP.

Thus, whilst the party have gained allegiants in the way of Sarah Pochin and, now, Danny Kruger, this does not necessarily represent a growth of faith in the party on behalf of parliamentary representatives.

So why has Kruger made the decision to defect? What has changed in recent months to

lead such a high-ranking Conservative minister to leave his own party? Perhaps, it can be put down to Reform’s increase in popularity. Is Kruger simply trying to secure his seat in the Commons in the next general election now that Reform is projected to out perform his old party; or is this a reflection of genuine confidence in Reform UK and a personal devotion to their policies as society begins to focus more on issues such as immigration, which reform shines a particularly bright light upon? 

But what does this mean for the Conservative party? Having been founded in 1834, the

Conservatives have remained one of the UKs two major parties for centuries - thus, the defection may be a useful indicator into the wellbeing of the party, and is a partial representation of just how unpopular they have become. For leader Kemi Badenoch herself, it may represent poor leadership, or at least a poor response to her authority and supposed blueprint for the party’s future, further undermining her attempts to rebuild the Tory’s and frame then a strong and united front. In a press conference, sitting alongside Nigel Farage, Kruger claimed that “the Conservatives are over” and that the “flame of conservatism” has been passed to a “new torch” referring to Reform UK. It is undeniable that such harsh claims from, as well as the defection of, a high-ranking member, will have a negative impact on the party, the extent of which we will only be able to tell with time. 

It does, however, appear as though the nation is giving up on the Conservative party, and now, it seems, the same can be said for its very own members. With this in mind, the defection of Danny Kruger illustrates a crucial time for the Conservatives. The act offers an insight into the internal strength of the party, and should more follow in the footsteps of the former shadow minister, it could provide yet another devastating blow to Tory power. Although Badenoch has encouraged all those with doubts of her plans for the party’s future to “jump ship”, such actions would only prove the current suspicions that the Tories are weaker than ever, and may never make a return to the power

and glory they once held with such a firm grasp.

Image: TL Live