Westminster is no stranger to high drama, but the past few weeks have delivered a political spectacle that even seasoned insiders describe as "dreadful" for the government. The departure of a senior aide to the prime minister, following the leak of sexually explicit messages from nearly a decade ago, has only deepened the sense of turmoil. According to BBC reporting, those at the top of government are "kicking themselves" over recent missteps, acknowledging the magnitude of the problems facing their party.
Yet, as much as Labour’s own infighting and image woes have been on display, a new force has emerged to shake up the political order: Reform UK. The party, led by Nigel Farage and buoyed by a string of high-profile defections, is sending shockwaves through the established parties. Their sustained lead in opinion polls over the past several months, coupled with a growing sense of momentum, has left rivals scrambling to respond. The most recent and perhaps most headline-grabbing move came on Monday, September 15, 2025, when Conservative MP Danny Kruger announced his defection to Reform UK.
Kruger, who was elected as the MP for Devizes in 2019 and for East Wiltshire in 2024, has been a notable figure within the Tory ranks. His defection is not just another blip in a turbulent season; it’s a moment that sharpens the existential questions facing the Conservative Party. BBC News reports that every defection to Nigel Farage’s party "accelerates the difficult questions and conundrums" the other parties must now confront. For Labour, the prospect of ceding power to Reform UK is a nightmare scenario. For the Conservatives, it’s an identity crisis unfolding in real time.
Kruger’s move has not been met without controversy. An online petition demanding a by-election in his constituency has gathered more than 500 signatures. However, Kruger has firmly ruled out such a vote, telling BBC Points West, "I will continue to be the MP that I was elected to be at the last election and will vote exactly the same way that I’ve voted since the Labour government came in." He’s made it clear that, despite changing parties, his approach to representing his constituents will remain unchanged.
But what drove Kruger to make the leap? In his own words, he’s concluded that "the Conservative party is not getting into a position to be able to make it into government." He elaborated further to BBC News, expressing admiration for the populist movements gaining traction in the United States, particularly those led by Donald Trump and JD Vance. "I respect the populist impulse," Kruger said. "I think it’s right we see a populist rebellion. On a personal level, I find [Trump] too confrontational and dividing." His remarks reflect both a recognition of the energy driving these movements and a personal discomfort with their sharpest edges.
Kruger is the second sitting MP to join Reform UK, following Lee Anderson’s switch in 2024 after a stint as an independent. With Kruger on board, Reform now boasts five MPs in the House of Commons, including two elected in the 2024 general election. The party’s ranks swelled further on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, when former Tory MP Maria Caulfield, who lost her seat in the previous election, announced she too was joining Reform UK. The party’s ability to attract defectors is becoming a defining feature of this political moment.
The reverberations of these moves are felt across the spectrum. For Labour, the fear is palpable. According to BBC sources, there’s a deep anxiety about "bequeathing power to an outfit they loathe"—a reference to the rising fortunes of Reform UK. The party’s lead in the polls, while comfortable for months, is now shadowed by the possibility that voters disillusioned with both Labour and the Tories could propel Reform into a position of real influence. Insiders admit that communicating a clear sense of purpose to the public is an urgent priority.
Sir Keir Starmer, Labour’s leader, is acutely aware of the stakes. He’s scheduled to deliver a major speech at the Labour Party Conference in about two weeks, which, as one senior Labour figure told the BBC, "will leave people in absolutely no doubt at all what he stands for and what the government stands for." This, the source conceded, is a tacit acknowledgment that many voters still struggle to define Labour’s vision under Starmer’s leadership. The prime minister himself has been vocal about his commitment to the party and the fight ahead, telling Channel 4 News, "I am absolutely determined to lead in this fight of our times between renewal, the patriotic cause of the Labour Party and the division and toxic chaos and decline that would come under Reform."
Meanwhile, the Conservative Party faces what some describe as a moment of peril "greater than any in their modern history." Former cabinet ministers, when speaking to the BBC, have offered a range of reactions—from dismissing Kruger’s exit as "unsurprising" and calling him "impossible" and an "ideologue," to expressing deep concern about what these defections signal for the party’s future. With the party’s annual conference approaching, the Tories are grappling with internal fractures and a growing sense that their traditional base is slipping away.
And what of the Liberal Democrats? Despite holding a record-breaking 72 MPs, they find themselves frustrated at what they perceive as a lack of attention, drowned out by the noise surrounding Labour’s struggles and the Reform surge. Their historic gains risk being overshadowed by the shifting political winds.
For all the drama, Reform UK’s ascent is far from assured. The party faces daunting challenges: building a credible campaigning infrastructure, establishing local parties, vetting candidates, and developing policies that can withstand the scrutiny that comes with rising prominence. As BBC journalists Billy Kenber and Phil Kemp point out, these hurdles are significant, and it remains to be seen whether Reform can "present themselves as a viable alternative government." But with each passing month, the possibility is treated with increasing seriousness by their opponents.
As the dust settles from this latest round of defections and declarations, one thing is clear: the UK’s political landscape is in flux. The established parties are being forced to reckon with new realities, and voters are watching closely to see who will rise to the occasion—or falter under the pressure. The coming weeks, with party conferences and public speeches looming, promise more twists in a story that’s far from over.
In a season of uncertainty and shifting allegiances, the only certainty is that British politics is anything but dull.
