Former Tory Chairman Sir Jake Berry Defects to Reform UK

Sir Jake Berry, once a prominent figure in the Conservative Party, has defected to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, marking another high-profile departure from the Tories. The former Tory chairman, who served under Liz Truss during her brief tenure as Prime Minister, cited disillusionment with his former party, claiming it has “lost its way.”

In an exclusive interview with The Sun, Sir Jake declared, “Old Westminster politics has failed. Millions of people, just like me, want a country they can be proud of again. The only way we get that is with Reform in government.” His move follows that of former Welsh Secretary David Jones, who joined Reform UK just a week prior, making Sir Jake the second ex-Cabinet minister to switch allegiances in a short span.

Other former Tories who have aligned with Reform include Marco Longhi, Anne Marie Morris, Ross Thomson, Aiden Burley, and Dame Andrea Jenkyns, now mayor of Greater Lincolnshire. Sir Jake, who represented Rossendale and Darwen as an MP, lost his seat in the 2024 general election to Labour’s Andy MacNae. Official results show Mr MacNae secured 18,246 votes, defeating Sir Jake’s 12,619, with Reform’s candidate Daniel Matchett trailing closely at 9,695 votes.

Since his electoral defeat, Sir Jake has transitioned to broadcasting, hosting a programme on Talk TV. His political career spans significant roles under multiple Conservative leaders, including positions under Boris Johnson and Theresa May, where he focused on the Northern Powerhouse and levelling-up initiatives.

In a video accompanying The Sun’s report, Sir Jake reflected candidly on his time in government: “Britain is broken, and I know who broke it because I was there. For 30 years I supported the Conservative Party, for 14 years I was one of their MPs, sitting at that Cabinet table twice. The old parties do not have what it takes to transform our country, to build a Britain we can believe in again, and that’s why I’ve decided to join the Reform Party.”

Despite opposing Brexit in the 2016 referendum, Sir Jake praised Reform UK leader Nigel Farage for his unwavering principles. “Nigel doesn’t change his views when the political weather changes,” he said. “Because you know you can trust him, I can trust him too, and that’s why I’m going to spend every day campaigning to ensure that Nigel Farage and Reform form the next government of this great United Kingdom.”

Sir Jake’s defection underscores a growing trend of disillusioned Conservatives turning to Reform UK, as the party seeks to capitalise on dissatisfaction with the political establishment. With Labour now in power, Reform’s rising influence poses a challenge to both major parties as it seeks to reshape Britain’s political landscape.