Tories in Turmoil as Sir Jake Berry’s Defection to Reform Sparks Fears of Further Exodus

Published: 10th June 2025. The English Chronicle Desk | The English Chronicle Online

In a development that could redefine the landscape of British politics, former Cabinet minister and senior Conservative figure Sir Jake Berry has formally defected to Reform UK — a move described by insiders as just the beginning of a larger political shift.

Sir Jake’s departure from the Conservative Party, where he spent more than two decades rising through the ranks, has sent shockwaves through Westminster. His alignment with Reform UK — now led by Nigel Farage — signals a stark rejection of the current direction of the Tory party under leader Kemi Badenoch, and raises questions about the long-term stability of the Conservative political establishment.

Speaking with unwavering clarity, Sir Jake declared that after 25 years of loyalty to the Conservatives, he could no longer support what he views as a political system failing the British people. “Fourteen of those years, I served as an MP. I even sat at the Cabinet table twice. I believed in it. I gave it everything,” he said. But now, he argues, the country is broken, and both Labour and Conservative governments share the blame.

The timing of the defection is particularly damaging for the Conservatives. Sir Jake Berry was once regarded as a linchpin between the party and the so-called “red wall” constituencies in the North — voters whose support was crucial to Boris Johnson’s 2019 landslide. His intimate understanding of their concerns and frustrations made him a key strategist in keeping those seats blue. That the man who once embodied Conservative renewal in the North is now actively campaigning for their political rival has stirred deep unease within the Tory ranks.

Sir Jake’s decision is part of a broader pattern. Dame Andrea Jenkyns, the former Conservative MP and now Reform Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, welcomed him to the party and hinted that more defections are imminent. “I’ve known a while that Jake was coming over,” she revealed. “I’ve had conversations myself, and I was very proud to see David Jones come over.” David Jones, the former Welsh Secretary and another prominent ex-Conservative, joined Reform earlier this year.

Dame Andrea’s comments suggest an accelerating trend that could spell long-term structural damage to the Conservative Party. She spoke confidently about a growing sense of momentum within Reform, and argued that figures like Sir Jake Berry lend credibility and weight to the party’s ambitions. With Farage at the helm, the party believes it now has both the leadership and the public appeal to mount a serious challenge at the next general election.

Sir Jake’s criticism of the status quo was uncompromising. He lambasted what he described as a tax system that punishes ambition, a benefits system that lacks control and foresight, and an overall political structure that has failed to provide security, prosperity, or national pride. “If you were deliberately trying to wreck the country, you’d be hard-pressed to do a better job than the last two decades of Labour and Tory rule,” he said in his statement.

His endorsement of Nigel Farage as a trustworthy and consistent leader marks a new level of endorsement for Reform’s ambitions. “He doesn’t change his views to fit the mood of the day. And people respect that. So do I,” Sir Jake said. “That’s why I believe he should be our next Prime Minister.”

The scale and symbolism of this defection have rattled Conservative strategists, who now face the grim prospect of further high-profile exits at a time when party unity is already strained by internal divisions and flagging public confidence. Kemi Badenoch’s leadership, still relatively recent and seeking to steady the ship post-Sunak, will now be tested more fiercely than ever.

For Reform, Sir Jake’s move is nothing short of a coup. It lends legitimacy to their claim that they are not just a protest vote but a serious political contender capable of drawing experienced talent from across the spectrum. His arrival is expected to attract more Conservative defectors in the coming weeks, bolstering Farage’s long-held ambition to push Reform into the political mainstream.

What unfolds next will depend on whether other disillusioned Tories follow Sir Jake’s lead — and whether the electorate is prepared to view Reform as a viable alternative to the traditional two-party system. But one thing is clear: the foundations of British conservatism are now visibly cracking, and Reform stands ready to catch what falls through.