Former Conservative frontbencher and former contestant on I’m A Celebrity, Nadine Dorries, has switched allegiance to Reform UK.
Dorries, who has been advocating for Boris Johnson’s innocence in a supposed Conservative conspiracy for over two years, criticized her former party, stating it is “dead.” She took a swipe at Kemi Badenoch, claiming that the Conservative Party is incapable of winning the next election and tends to replace successful prime ministers with ineffective replacements.
The ex-Culture Secretary resigned as an MP in 2023, attributing her departure to “sinister forces” preventing her from receiving a peerage. This move sparked outrage among fellow Conservatives, with Tobias Ellwood accusing her of self-serving behavior and Sir Robert Neill labeling her actions as embarrassing.
Despite her departure, the Daily Mail reported that Dorries has not ruled out a potential return to the Commons, emphasizing that the Conservative Party is defunct and urging its members to consider alternative futures.
During her tenure in the Commons, Dorries was implicated in a coordinated effort with 10 MPs to interfere with the Privileges Committee’s investigation into Boris Johnson. Additionally, in 2012, she had her Tory membership suspended after agreeing to participate in the ITV show, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here, without consulting her party.
Commenting on Dorries’ defection, a Liberal Democrat source expressed sympathy for both Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage. A Labour spokeswoman criticized Dorries for her role in the demise of the Conservative Party and her alignment with Reform UK, highlighting the contradictions in her political journey.
Nigel Farage welcomed Dorries to Reform UK, praising her political acumen and predicting that she would contribute positively to their campaign for the upcoming General Election.
Dorries, known for her critical stance toward Rishi Sunak before leaving office, authored a book titled The Plot, alleging Boris Johnson’s unjust removal, which was described as peculiar by The Times’ Patrick Maguire.