EXCLUSIVE: Express Deputy Editor Sam Lister reveals the MPs most likely to follow Robert Jenrick in jumping ship to Nigel Farage’s insurgent party
Robert Jenrick’s defection has left both Sir Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch wondering who is next (Image: Daily Express)
Robert Jenrick’s bombshell defection to Reform has sparked a frenzy across Westminster, with everyone asking who could be next to make the leap. There are now said to be four big-name MPs who are on defection watch, in nothing short of a nightmare for both Sir Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch.
The former shadow justice secretary dramatically joined Nigel Farage’s insurgent party on Thursday, but only after being booted out of the Tories after plans for his defection were discovered by Mrs Badenoch. Westminster sources suggested the discovery of his resignation speech on an office photocopier caused his downfall.
Now Express Deputy Editor Sam Lister has revealed which politicians could be next to make the jump – and the list makes grim reading for the Labour and Conservative leaderships. Speaking on the Daily Expresso podcast, the paper’s former political editor said the defection was unprecedented in its brutality.
She said: “In that whole time I was over in Westminster, I’ve never seen anything like this.
“For a party leader to sack a member of their top team, but to do it publicly, to do it by video, to put it out by Twitter … I’ve never seen anything like that.”
Ms Lister revealed that Mrs Badenoch had “bounced” Mr Jenrick’s announcement by publicly sacking him first – a move that shattered the normal protocol around defections.
But the drama is far from over, with more MPs now firmly in Reform’s sights.
John Hayes has been a thorn in the side of successive Tory leaderships (Image: Getty)
John Hayes – The veteran mischief-maker
Top of the watch list is veteran Tory John Hayes, MP for South Holland and The Deepings since 1997.
Lister warned: “There are now two MPs who will now be clearly being watched like hawks by the Conservative Party whips, John Hayes who is a mischief-maker of old in the Conservative party.”
The 67-year-old Brexiteer has long been a thorn in the side of successive Tory leaderships and holds a rock-solid 6,856 majority in his South Holland & the Deepings seat, one of the safest in the country.
Gareth Bacon, right, pictured with Jonathan Gullis, who himself defected from the Tories to Reform (Image: Getty)
Gareth Bacon – The London rebel
Gareth Bacon, Tory MP for Orpington in south-east London, is the second Conservative on high alert.
Lister named him alongside Mr Hayes as one of two MPs Conservative whips will be watching “like hawks”.
Mr Bacon, who represents the London seat with a 5,118 majority, has previously clashed with party leadership over Brexit and immigration.
Gisela Stuart pictured with Boris Johnson during the Brexit campaign (Image: Getty)
Gisela Stuart – The Brexit heavyweight
On the Labour side, Ms Lister tipped veteran Brexiteer Gisela Stuart as a potential shock defector.
But there’s a catch – the former Labour MP for Birmingham Edgbaston stood down in 2017 and is no longer in Parliament.
Lister said of potential Labour defections: “He [Farage] talked about a former MP. I would be amazed if any from the current lot jumped over, because they’re very drippy.”
She added: “I think you’ve got to look at the Brexiteers, so the kind of Gisela Stuart figures or Kate Hoey. […] It’s all quite retro.”
Kate Hoey has maintained strong ties with Reform UK (Image: Getty)
Kate Hoey – The Farage ally
Former Labour MP Kate Hoey, who represented Vauxhall until 2019, is another name in the frame.
The staunch Brexiteer worked closely with Mr Farage during the EU referendum campaign and has maintained strong ties with Reform UK.
Lister explained: “My instinct would be to go back and look at the Brexiteers because they know him. You know, they’ve worked with Nigel for a long time.”
With Westminster in turmoil and both major parties haemorrhaging support in the polls, the defection floodgates could be about to open.
