She has become the most recent prominent Conservative Member of Parliament to publicly align herself with Nigel Farage, following similar defections by former ministers Robert Jenrick and Nadhim Zahawi. With her move, the overall number of Conservative MPs who have crossed over now stands at eight, underscoring a growing pattern of high-profile departures from the party.
On Monday, Suella Braverman, who previously served as the UK home secretary under a Conservative-led government, formally announced her decision to leave the Conservatives and join the anti-immigration Reform UK party. Explaining her decision, she said she was “calling time” on the Conservative Party, accusing it of allowing immigration to spiral “out of control” and failing to honour its commitments to the public.
The 45-year-old MP, who represents Fareham and Waterlooville in southern England and is of Goan heritage, revealed that she had ended a 30-year association with the Conservative Party. Her resignation was made public at a London event, where she was officially welcomed into Reform UK by its leader, Nigel Farage, in front of supporters.
In an emotional address, Braverman described her defection as a personal and political homecoming. She accused the Conservatives of repeated betrayals, dishonesty, and empty promises, arguing that the party continued to make pledges it never seriously intended to fulfil. According to her, this persistent failure had eroded public trust and left the country in a worsening state.
She went on to paint a bleak picture of the nation’s condition, saying Britain was “broken” and deeply unwell. She cited uncontrolled immigration, overstretched public services, widespread feelings of insecurity, and the growing number of young people leaving the country in search of better opportunities abroad. In her view, these problems reflected a broader decline in national confidence and stability.
Braverman also claimed that the UK was no longer able to adequately defend itself and that the country appeared weak and humiliated on the global stage. She argued that Britain was at a critical turning point, forced to choose between continuing down a path of gradual decline, weakness, and concession, or taking decisive action to restore strength, sovereignty, and national pride.
Nigel Farage welcomed her decision, remarking that her defection was long overdue. He described Braverman as a senior political figure who had held one of the highest offices in government, suggesting that her move carried significant symbolic and political weight.
In return, Braverman openly praised Farage, asserting that he was the only politician in Britain who had shown consistent courage and unwavering commitment to the country over the years. She portrayed him as a rare figure in national politics who had remained steadfast in his principles.
The Conservatives’ initial response to her departure sparked controversy. An early statement appeared to attribute her decision to issues related to her “mental health,” which triggered immediate criticism. After public backlash, the party revised its wording, instead stating that her defection was inevitable and had been a matter of timing rather than surprise. A further comment contrasted MPs motivated by public service with those driven primarily by personal ambition.
Known as a leading figure on the hard-right wing of the Conservative Party, Braverman had previously competed in leadership contests and was later appointed to senior roles by former prime ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. Throughout her career, she has frequently been at the centre of political disputes.
Her time as home secretary was particularly contentious, marked by two abrupt dismissals. The first followed a breach of ministerial rules during Liz Truss’s premiership, while the second occurred under Rishi Sunak after she made highly controversial remarks to the media.
