WHAT HAPPENED: Andrew Rosindell, a long-time Tory, defected to the Reform Party.

WHO WAS INVOLVED: Andrew Rosindell MP, Nigel Farage, and the Reform Party.

WHEN & WHERE: The defection was announced on Sunday, shortly after Robert Jenrick’s defection earlier in the week.

KEY QUOTE: Rosindell expressed his objections to Tory policy and leadership in a tweet.

IMPACT: Rosindell’s move makes him the 7th MP to join Reform, with Farage setting a May deadline for further defections.

Following Robert Jenrick MP’s defection from the UK Conservative Party to the Reform Party earlier this week, Andrew Rosindell has also switched allegiances.

Rosindell, who has been a member of the Conservative Party since he was 14, cited his discontent with the party’s policies and leadership as reasons for his departure. He made his views known in a tweet on Sunday.

This makes Rosindell the 7th MP to join the Reform Party, which is led by Nigel Farage. Farage has issued a deadline in May for any further defections, including those from MPs and local councillors.

This evening, with sorrow, I have decided to resign from my position as an Opposition Shadow Minister and as a member of the Conservative & Unionist Party.

Since joining the Conservative Party at the age of 14, I have been a loyal and committed supporter of the principles… pic.twitter.com/hbOSPRezCw

— Andrew Rosindell MP (@AndrewRosindell) January 18, 2026

The move signals another shift in the UK political landscape, as the Reform Party continues to expand its influence and challenge the political establishment.

Rosindell’s decision to join Reform underscores ongoing dissatisfaction within the Conservative Party, potentially leading to more changes in the coming months.

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