Maria Caulfield, former MP for Lewes, defects to Reform UK
– 2 min read
Maria Caulfield, the former Conservative MP for Lewes and ex-health minister, has officially joined Reform UK, becoming the 13th former Tory to defect to the right-wing party.
Caulfield, who served as MP from 2015 until losing her seat to the Liberal Democrats in the 2024 general election, revealed she had switched allegiance a month ago. Speaking to GB News, she said: “If you are Conservative right-minded, then the future is Reform. The country is going to change a lot. The same people who thought that Brexit would not happen think that Reform will not happen. They are in for a shock.”
Danny Kruger, who has consistently voted against LGBTQ+ rights, defects to Reform UK
Danny Kruger, MP for Devizes, has defected from the Conservative Party to join Reform UK. Kruger, known for his socially conservative views, announced his move in a statement citing dissatisfaction with the Conservative Party’s “abandonment of traditional values” and its “failure to uphold national sovereignty and cultural integrity.” His
Graham Robson
Her move follows the recent high-profile defection of sitting MP Danny Kruger, who declared the Conservative Party “over” and urged colleagues to join Reform UK. Caulfield's husband, Steve Bell, former leader of the Conservative Group in Brighton & Hove, also joined Reform UK earlier this year.
Caulfield’s voting record on LGBTQ+ issues has also drawn attention. She has consistently voted against measures aimed at expanding LGBTQ+ rights, including opposing the extension of same-sex marriage to Northern Ireland. Her stance on gender recognition reform and trans rights has been described by critics as socially conservative, aligning with Reform UK’s opposition to what it calls “woke ideology”.
