Andrew Rosindell has switched allegiance to Reform UK, making him the second Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) to defect to the party within a week. This move comes as a setback for Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who recently had to dismiss Robert Jenrick upon learning of his planned defection. Rosindell, a shadow minister for foreign affairs, announced his decision to join Nigel Farage’s Reform UK on Sunday, setting a defection deadline of May 7.
Labour party chair Anna Turley criticized the move, stating that Reform UK is trying to cover up the Conservative Party’s failures in public services under Nigel Farage’s leadership. Rosindell, in a statement on Sunday, expressed his resignation from his positions in the Opposition Shadow Minister and the Conservative & Unionist Party. He cited his decision to prioritize the country over party loyalty, emphasizing the Conservative Party’s failure to address issues related to Chagossian self-determination and British sovereignty as key reasons for his departure.
Rosindell mentioned that the Conservative Party’s reluctance to be accountable for past mistakes and the neglect of constituents’ concerns in Romford were contributing factors to his decision. Nigel Farage welcomed Rosindell’s move, praising him as a patriot and highlighting the Chagos Islands issue as a tipping point. With Rosindell’s defection, Reform UK now has seven MPs in the House of Commons, including recent addition Robert Jenrick, despite previous tensions with Farage.
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