Overview
- Romford’s Andrew Rosindell quit the Conservatives and joined Reform UK, citing the party’s stance on Chagos Islands sovereignty as his red line.
- His move raises Reform’s Commons tally to seven and gives the party its first MP in London.
- The defection follows Robert Jenrick’s switch after his sacking by Kemi Badenoch and comes days after former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi joined.
- Reform has set 7 May as the deadline for taking more defectors, with leaders rejecting any pact with the Conservatives and declaring an aim to replace them.
- A YouGov snapshot after Zahawi’s arrival showed Reform slipping to 24%, as reporting highlighted internal unease about recruiting controversial ex-Tories.