UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Conservative peer Lord Jackson may switch to Reform UK, citing the Tories’ migration failures as Farage’s party outperforms them in recent polls.
As reported by The Telegraph, a Tory peer is considering joining Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, citing his party’s failings on immigration.
What did Lord Jackson say about Tory failings and Reform UK?
Lord Jackson slammed the Tories under Kemi Badenoch, saying they had failed to offer a “compelling and attractive alternative” to Labour.
He represented Peterborough as a Conservative MP from 2005 to 2017 and later served as a special adviser to Brexit Secretary Sir David Davis.
Mr Jackson, granted a title in former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s 2022 honours, has recently shared multiple social media posts backing Nigel Farage.
He stated,
“At the moment, I retain the Conservative whip and support the party in the Lords in actively holding this terrible Labour Government to account in scrutinising its many sub-standard and damaging Bills.”
The peer said,
“However, like many, I don’t believe the Conservative Party has adequately addressed its abysmal final period in office, especially its woeful record on immigration, nor set out yet a compelling and attractive alternative prospectus based on enduring Conservative principles.”
He added,
“I don’t have any plans to leave my party after 42 years, but I would also neither rule out joining Reform nor voting for the party, but in any event, I believe an electoral arrangement is most likely as the imperative is to remove this damaging Labour Government.”
Lord Jackson also supported Mr Farage’s call for the Government to appoint candidates to the House of Lords.
He said,
“I certainly support the appointment of Reform peers to the House of Lords.”
How did Conservative MPs criticise the party over migration failings?
Net migration hit around one million in the year ending July 2023, while the Conservative government oversaw almost 400 asylum hotels, setting a new record.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch expressed regret over the party’s migrant response and pledged to remove all illegal arrivals in the UK.
Conservative MPs accuse the party of hypocrisy over its immigration stance, following the use of hundreds of hotels to house asylum seekers.
Leaked WhatsApp messages showed 2024 Tory intake members slammed party leadership for “silly” and “p— poor” communication.
Kevin Hollinrake admitted the party’s graphic revealing asylum seekers’ benefits raised concerns, but said it would remain online.
What did polls show about Reform leading Conservatives by 12 points?
Recent surveys show Reform ahead of the Tories by around 12 points, with significant gains in this year’s local elections.
Mr Farage’s party is challenging the Tories on the right, leading on major issues like migration, net zero, and tax, amid doubts over Mrs Badenoch’s voter appeal.
What did Baroness Smith say about the small boats crisis?
Education minister Baroness Smith acknowledges the government has not resolved the small boats crisis, with Channel arrivals nearing 50,000 since taking office.
She said,
“This is a problem that has, up to this point, we haven’t managed to tackle in terms of the numbers who are coming here. “But it is a completely legitimate claim to say that what is happening is the result of the last government, which chose to focus on gimmicks, the Rwanda scheme, which returned four volunteers.”
Ms Smith added,
“We’re taking responsibility. I don’t believe it was our fault that it was enabled to take root in the way in which it has done by a government that failed to do what was necessary.”
What did Nigel Farage write to Keir Starmer about Reform UK peer appointments?
Reform UK leader urged the government to nominate supporters to the House of Lords, citing a “democratic disparity.”
Mr Farage wrote to Sir Keir Starmer, arguing it was unfair that his party had no Lords seats, while smaller parties like the Greens did.
His letter states,
“My party received over 4.1 million votes at the general election in July 2024. We have since won a large number of seats in local government, led in the national opinion polls for many months and won the only byelection of this parliament.”
Mr Farage wrote,
“While Reform UK believes in a reformed House of Lords, the time has come to address the democratic disparity that exists in the upper house.”
He added,
“The Greens, DUP, Plaid Cymru, and UUP have 13 peers between them, but Reform UK has none. Furthermore, the Liberal Democrats now have 76 peers but received 600,000 fewer votes than Reform UK in July last year. None of this holds water any longer, given the seismic shifts that have taken place in British politics.”
How many Tory Councillors switched to Reform UK in 2025?
Over 60 former Conservative councillors defected to Reform UK. This included 12 from Kent and 10 from Durham, with 29 more joining recently.
The party’s total council seats now exceed 100, with 66 originally elected as Conservatives.