politics
January 26, 2026
Braverman’s predictable defection is Farage’s biggest political gamble yet
Twice-sacked former home secretary is ‘not a team player’ and may limit attempts to expand Reform’s appeal
TL;DR
- Suella Braverman appeared at a Reform UK rally, described as a "surprise guest who was also not a surprise."
- Braverman, a former home secretary and attorney general, has been on the backbenches for over three years.
- Her appearance at the Reform event in London was kept secret.
- A Tory spokesperson stated it was "always a matter of when, not if, Suella would defect."
- Reform UK now has eight MPs, with four elected as Conservatives.
- Danny Kruger, Robert Jenrick, and Braverman have top-level political experience.
- Critics suggest voting Reform means a "Tory replay" led by "misfits or electoral rejects."
- Nigel Farage has set a 7 May deadline for party switchers to create momentum.
- Braverman has been sacked as home secretary twice: once during the Liz Truss era and again under Rishi Sunak.
- She was ousted for writing an unauthorized newspaper article.
- An "insider" within Reform had previously briefed that Braverman would not be welcome due to being "not a team player" and "too disruptive."
- Farage denied ruling out her joining Reform, acknowledging others might have.
- Few Conservative MPs are expected to miss Braverman.
- Braverman's defection is considered a "no-brainer" for her personally, attracted to Reform's hard-right, anti-immigration stance.
- For Reform, her joining is a gamble as Farage needs to appeal beyond committed supporters.
- Braverman is seen as a potential home secretary who could implement a "repressive migration regime" but also a "ticking timebomb" and a barrier to expanding the party's appeal.
Continue reading the original article