Reform has pulled off another blow for Kemi Badenoch during Tory conference with a second defection in two days.
Kemi Badenoch has been dealt yet another blow by Reform UK, after one of her donors and occasional advisers announced he is their newest defector.
Mark Gallagher, who gave Ms Badenoch £2,000 for her leadership campaign last year, has announced he is joining Nigel Farage‘s party.
It is understood that one reason for the defection was the way Badenoch did not respond to repeated attempts to help and was just ignoring him.
A Reform UK source told the Express: “Nigel and Mark have been friends for a long, we understand he is very disenchanted with the Conservative Party.”
The party did not comment on whether Mr Gallagher is planning on donating to his new party.
A Tory Party spokesman said: “Mark Gallagher hasn’t been a member of the Conservatives since 2020, was a founding member of the Brexit Party, and therefore this can’t be described a defection.
“He made a very small donation to Kemi’s leadership campaign last year, but was open about remaining close to Nigel. As so often, Reform are overselling and underdelivering.”
It’s the second defection to Reform UK in two days, after Mr Farage gained his second member on the London Assembly.
Yesterday the party revealed that veteran Tory Keith Prince, who represents Havering and Redbridge on the GLA, had defected.
Mr Prince said the Tory party were “done and dusted” and “no longer an effective opposition to this failing Labour government.”
“Today I join Reform UK after 49 years as a member of the Conservative Party. I am really excited to be a joining a party with a charismatic leader and a vision for a better Britain.”
Mr Farage hailed the Tory’s move as “an important moment for the party.”
It is understood that one reason for the defection was the way Badenoch did not respond to repeated attempts to help and was just ignoring him.
A Reform UK source told the Express: “Nigel and Mark have been friends for a long, we understand he is very disenchanted with the Conservative Party.”
The party did not comment on whether Mr Gallagher is planning on donating to his new party.
A Tory Party spokesman said: “Mark Gallagher hasn’t been a member of the Conservatives since 2020, was a founding member of the Brexit Party, and therefore this can’t be described a defection.
“He made a very small donation to Kemi’s leadership campaign last year, but was open about remaining close to Nigel. As so often, Reform are overselling and underdelivering.”
It’s the second defection to Reform UK in two days, after Mr Farage gained his second member on the London Assembly.
Yesterday the party revealed that veteran Tory Keith Prince, who represents Havering and Redbridge on the GLA, had defected.
Mr Prince said the Tory party were “done and dusted” and “no longer an effective opposition to this failing Labour government.”
“Today I join Reform UK after 49 years as a member of the Conservative Party. I am really excited to be a joining a party with a charismatic leader and a vision for a better Britain.”
Mr Farage hailed the Tory’s move as “an important moment for the party.”
“With Keith’s defection, Reform UK now has an official group on the London Assembly for the first time.
“Our impressive progress in London continues, and we are building our momentum ahead of London’s local elections next May.”
Kemi Badenoch has been dealt another blow (Image: Getty)
The Tories‘ conference, like Labour and the LibDems, will be dominated by discussion of how to prevent Reform UK winning the next election.
The party now hovers on the cusp of being overtaken by the Liberal Democrats in the polls, between 20% and 13% support depending on the polling company.
Speaking on Laura Kuenssberg’s show this morning, Ms Badenoch insisted that her approach to governing the Tories would “pay off eventually”.
