Forum Topic

Suella Braverman

Has defected to Reform.   Good!

Sue Hammond ● 22d27 Comments

@Mr HawkesMany Labour MPs were newly promoted following the last GE and they now realise the Labour ship is starting to sink.  Some will  be unemployed in 4 years time because they backed the wrong horse.  However Rache should be able to get another job in the accounts or complaints department of the Halifax again without necessarily lying on her CV.  Chancellor of The Exchequer is impressive even if she was rubbish at it.  Ange aka ‘Ginge’ the jumped-up gobby shop steward, I think will struggle because she is no longer the Unions’ poster-girl.  In fact she was suspended by Unite in July 2025.  I understand your concerns about Reform being able to manage and grow the economy because the Party is the new kid on the block and therefore untested.  However Reform already has an impressive list of very successful businessmen in the Party, plus some very wealthy donors who have a wealth of experience on tap.  AI overview:Several successful business people have joined Reform UK in prominent roles or as significant donors. Notable figures include property moguls, an entrepreneur who founded a major company, and high-profile figures from other parties with business backgrounds. Key individuals include:* Zia Yusuf: A former entrepreneur who co-founded the luxury concierge company Velocity Black (sold for $300m in 2023), Yusuf became the party's chairman. He works in an unpaid capacity and has made a substantial donation to the party.* Nick Candy: A billionaire luxury property developer, Candy serves as Reform UK's treasurer. He has pledged a significant sum to the party and is leading fundraising efforts among wealthy donors.* Richard Tice: A co-founder of the party and former leader (now an MP), Tice is a successful property developer and CEO of property asset management group Quidnet Capital. He has supported the party through substantial loans, many of which were later converted into donations.* Kevin Byrne OBE: The founder of Checkatrade.com, a successful online trade directory, Byrne was announced as the chairman of "Small Business for Reform," a new internal party group.* Nadhim Zahawi: A former Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer and successful businessman who co-founded the polling company YouGov, Zahawi defected to Reform in January 2026. Other significant business-person donors include:* Lord Bamford: The chairman of JCB, his family is one of Britain's wealthiest. He has donated to Reform and his company has sponsored party events, indicating a shift from his previous Conservative support.* Jeremy Hosking: A hedge fund manager and one of the three controlling shareholders in Marathon Asset Management, Hosking has donated millions to Reform UK since 2019.* Andrew Perloff: The owner of property company Panther Securities PLC, Perloff and his company have made significant donations to the party.* Christopher Harborne: A financier who made money from an aviation fuel company and cryptocurrency investments, Harborne is a major donor to Reform, giving millions to the party when it was the Brexit Party.

Sue Hammond ● 20d

The rightward drift in the Tory party has been going on for several years, in my view, and one of the reasons why they eventually became unelectable.Take a look at Cameron's cabinet in 2015 and compare it to what came later, especially under Johnson.  With the exception of the likes of Duncan Smith and Grayling there were far more traditional centre-right Tories in it than there were under Johnson.The main reason of course is his purge ahead of the 2019 election when all the Remainers were ejected because he insisted on a pledge of loyalty to him and to the policy of a no-deal exit from Europe.  By no coincidence at all some of those purged are now leading supporters of the new Prosper group.I have read that Farage now has more former members of the Truss cabinet in his party than Badenoch has in her shadow cabinet, so maybe there is now more space for centrists.  The problem is too many of them are no longer in parliament - Johnson's malign influence lingers on.

Jonathan Callaway ● 20d

Ms HammondPoliticians have mortgages to pay like the rest of us and outside of politics most have few if any other skills to draw on.So the smart ones will move to a Party which they think will address the electorate's main concerns and get them elected and back on the payroll.The first is immigration - tick.The second is managing and growing a free enterprise economy  which is something Labour does not really understand or believe in.The challenge for Reform is to come up with real and convincing policies in this area.

John Hawkes ● 20d

Ms Hammond'So much negativity on here.  All pee’d off because Reform is growing existentially while Labour is imploding daily.  Love it!!😸'But should we intrude on private grief ?😉I see that 'Frequent Flyer' Kier Starmer (gosh it rhymes !) is taking the advice of US President Harry S Truman.‘If you don’t like the heat, get out of the kitchen’.And pack your own chop sticks that have been tested for electronic bugs !

John Hawkes ● 20d

Yes, but did he specify a particular time?I cannot work out why "rightward drift" relates to Kemi Badenoch only.

Ivonne Holliday ● 21d

Jonathan used the term 'rightward drift'.

Steven Rose ● 21d

Hello Steven,Apologies for butting in, but who said that the Conservative Party drifted to the right under Kemi Badenoch?Yes, there is a difference of views on Europe.  There again, where did the £350m per week for the NHS?

Ivonne Holliday ● 21d

In what way has the Conservative Party drifted to the right under Kemi Badenoch, Jonathan? And how does Prosper propose to counter this supposed ‘rightward drift’? From what its founding members said at their inaugural meeting, Prosper believes in a business friendly low tax economy in which people are incentivised to work. That is exactly what Kemi Badenoch believes in. The only differences between Prosper and the Conservative leadership relate to Europe. Prosper would probably be prepared to pay any price Brussels demands, whether a large cash payment or a willingness to accept its rules, in order to reduce trade barriers between the UK and the EU. And Prosper no doubts regards Kemi Badenoch’s proposal to leave the ECHR as ‘populist’ , though its members didn’t explain how the UK is supposed to maintain ‘strong borders’  ( in Ruth Davidson’s words) if it is virtually impossible to deport illegal migrants.

Steven Rose ● 21d

It's a positive article, Jonathan, and good to hear from Justine Greening again.'It’s a long way back, but let’s finally all agree: we’ve reached the end of the political cul-de-sac that Braverman, Jenrick and co. so catastrophically led the party down.'I hope she's right; I suspect she is.

Gerry Boyce ● 21d

The new Prosper UK group has reacted to this news.  Here is Justine Greening in the Guardian:https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jan/26/suella-braverman-reform-conservative-jenrick-kemi-badenochShe seems to see the loss of prominent right wingers as a positive for the Tory party and indeed has some harsh words to describe them.I think she's right - there is a centre ground out there, populated in part by former Tory voters who had been alienated by the rightwards drift of the party.  They could be won back if the party leadership heeds her message.

Jonathan Callaway ● 21d

Thank you, Sue, for the information.  I am aware of this.  I am puzzled as to why you thought it necessary to post this.

Ivonne Holliday ● 21d

https://www.newstatesman.com/long-reads/2023/03/suella-braverman-profile-rise-fall

Philippa Bond ● 21d

"I think Prosper is designed to appeal to respectable middle of the road Remainer Conservatives. I am not sure it will have much success."It all depends how many middle-of-the-road Conservatives are left. Remainerism is on the rise, if you believe any of the polls.  Brexit is seen by ever fewer people as a success and if Reform pursue a line of maximum hostility to the EU that is going to make us even more isolated than we already are.  Previous discussions have focused on how we can no longer rely on the US security umbrella.  They probably have kill switches on our nuclear subs so we don't even have those sabres to rattle.  We need friends and the obvious ones are our neighbours.  That doesn't mean rejoining the EU or even the customs union but closer alignment can still be achieved within the constraints of the trade deals we have concluded since brexit. To my mind they deliver so little value compared to the damage the UK economy is already suffering from (though estimates vary!).  The most beneficial may be the one with India while the US deal is struggling as new demands from the US side are holding up progress.

Jonathan Callaway ● 21d

"I think Prosper is designed to appeal to respectable middle of the road Remainer Conservatives. I am not sure it will have much success."It all depends how many middle-of-the-road Conservatives are left. Remainerism is on the rise, if you believe any of the polls.  Brexit is seen by ever fewer people as a success and if Reform pursue a line of maximum hostility to the EU that is going to make us even more isolated than we already are.  Previous discussions have focused on how we can no longer rely on the US security umbrella.  They probably have kill switches on our nuclear subs so we don't even have those sabres to rattle.  We need friends and the obvious ones are our neighbours.  That doesn't mean rejoining the EU or even the customs union but closer alignment can still be achieved within the constraints of the trade deals we have concluded since brexit. To my mind they deliver so little value compared to the damage the UK economy is already suffering from (though estimates vary!).  The most beneficial may be the one with India while the US deal is struggling as new demands from the US side are holding up progress.

Jonathan Callaway ● 21d

@Steven 10.00I suspect Prosper will not prosper much at all.  However should it get off the ground it could in effect split the existing Conservative vote which would not benefit either Party.  All this talk about getting closer to the EU would take years to negotiate and when Reform is elected it would be cancelled anyway.

Sue Hammond ● 21d

@Ivonne 26.01.26 19.01I am so happy Ivonne to bring some mirth into your doom-laden, angst-filled life here on the forum.  Meanwhile I shall continue to enjoy Labour’s turmoil and await Starmer’s inevitable downfall. ‘Burnham rebellion grows: 50 Labour MPs sign letter to Starmer protesting against decision to block Manchester mayorPressure on Keir Starmer intensified last night as the backlash to his decision to block Andy Burnham continued to grow.One Labour MP called for the Prime Minister to 'consider his position' while more than 50 put their names to a letter critical of his actions.There were also calls for an emergency meeting of the party's ruling body to reverse the decision.Sir Keir has long been expected to face a leadership challenge following what is likely to be a devastating set of local election results in May. But MPs warned that his strike against Mr Burnham has 'hastened his demise' and increased the chances of a battle.’https://mol.im/a/15499991

Sue Hammond ● 21d

Thank you, Jonathan.I think it is a brilliant development and I hope that common sense and rationality returns to the Conservative Party. 

Ivonne Holliday ● 21d

I listened to some of the speeches given by Ruth Davidson , Andy Street, Amber Rudd and David Gauke et al. at the launch of Prosper. It seems to me that their attempt to capture the centre right differs from Kemi Badenoch’s approach only in two respects.  One, which is not surprising given the line-up of former Remainers, is their wish to move closer to the EU, ‘ so as to remove barriers with our closest trading partners’ , as David Gauke put it.  But what does that mean? Rejoining the Customs Union? This would nullify the free trade agreements that the UK has already agreed with India, Australia and New Zealand and make it impossible to negotiate a deal with the USA. The UK would also be forced to impose any tariffs decided by the EU, making goods imported from outside Europe more expensive. The second aspect of their approach is the rejection of ‘populism’. Clearly this is a swipe at Reform, but what does it mean? Exactly which policies of Reform do they have in mind. I don’t know, because they didn’t say, but I suspect Prosper is against leaving the ECHR. But in that case, given their belief in ‘strong borders’ as Ruth Davidson said, how do they propose to ensure that the UK can overcome the legal challenges to the deportation of illegal migrants? In short, I think Prosper is designed to appeal to respectable middle of the road Remainer Conservatives. I am not sure it will have much success.

Steven Rose ● 21d

Braverman is what used to be called "highly strung". For Farage she will be trouble.

Alexander MacLeod ● 21d

I see a new Conservative group has been formed, Prosper UK, comprising a long list of former ministers and MPs, including Justine Greening, and led by Ruth Davidson and Andy Street.Their aim seems to be to push the Tory centre of gravity back towards the middle, now that "divisive" individuals such as Jenrick and Braverman have left.  UK politics is becoming ever more interesting!

Jonathan Callaway ● 22d

There is clearly animosity on the part of reform to those Conservatives like Boris Johnson whom they regard as responsible for the surge in immigration. And there is obviously anger among Conservatives toward those who have defected to reform, particularly those like Robert Jenrick who have proceeded to criticise their former colleagues. But I am not sure there is particular animosity between Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage. They agree on most issues, the only notable exception being Reform's policy of abolishing the two child benefit cap for British families. There may not be an electoral pact but I suspect that after the election the two parties will govern in coalition.

Steven Rose ● 22d

And how many times was Suella sacked from her posts?  I think Nigel Farage will find her a bit of a handful!  And of course he's quite welcome to her.

Philippa Bond ● 22d

Ha ha ha ha!!  Sue, whatever pleases you!!!  Ha ha ha!!!

Ivonne Holliday ● 22d

So much negativity on here.  All pee’d off because Reform is growing existentially while Labour is imploding daily.  Love it!!😸

Sue Hammond ● 22d

As they grow with Tory defections and ex-Tory voters, I wonder if Reform may actually start lose their unity - with a harder and a softer wing?And no, not a tail too!

David Ainsworth ● 22d

What took her so long?  Her husband signed up ages ago.  Doubt the Tories will see her as much of a loss, to be honest.And Reform is looking more and more like Tory-lite, or perhaps better said Tory-right, as all the defectors are coming from the right wing of the party.What will the Tories do now?  Try to out-Reform Reform or swing back to a more centrist position to protect what's left of their seats from the LibDems?  There doesn't seem to be room out there on the right for two parties.These defections make any form of electoral pact between the two parties rather more remote, should it come down to that in 2029.  The animosity is enormous and growing!

Jonathan Callaway ● 22d

Yes, they are welcome to Cruella!!She is in good company with the likes of Nadhim Zahawi, Lee Anderson, Nadine Dorries among others....

Ivonne Holliday ● 22d