As we’ve reported, Reform UK have received some criticism from their own members and politicians. The reason they’re unhappy is because Reform are accepting Tories into the party. This is a problem, because Reform are supposed to be an alternative to the Labour-Conservative duopoly; not a continuation of it.

The latest news is that Reform have doubled down on all this by announcing a plan to attract as many Tories as they can between now and the local elections:

Huge announcement from Reform:

After May 7th 2026, Reform will accept NO MORE Tories.

That means MPs.

It means former MPs.

It means councillors.

Tick tock.

— Zia Yusuf (@ZiaYusufUK) January 17, 2026

Reform ultimatum

The reason for this ultimatum is obvious; Reform want to kickstart an exodus from the Tories to Reform. It’s clear what the result will be; a shit load more Tories joining Reform.

Because Farage and co. aren’t stupid, they’re doing everything they can to avoid the impression that this is anything other than an establishment takeover of the supposedly anti-establishment party. Here’s what Farage wrote in the Telegraph:

Put this date in your political diaries: Thursday May 7 is Deadline Day for parliamentary defectors to Reform UK.

Indeed, any elected politician who wants to play a part in our movement and help turn Britain around has until that date to apply to join Reform.

After Deadline Day passes, the door will close for current and former MPs, as well as local councillors.

Now is the time to decide: do you want to go down with the failed politics of the past, or go forward with Reform UK – the party of hope, optimism and change?

Nigel, these people were the facilitators of the “failed politics of the past”. If you truly believed that the Tories were a ‘failure’, you would do everything you could to keep these potential wreckers out of your party.

Farage also said this:

Mr Jenrick’s public declaration that Britain is broken has caused a big row this week, but it is correct – in fact, recent polling shows that 74 per cent of the British people agree with us.

How do you intend to ‘un-break’ Britain when your tools are the hammers which broke it?

‘Never trust a Tory’

Farage also said (emphasis added):

But Reform is not a rescue charity for every panicky Tory MP. There has to be a benefit for us in any defection. What could they add to our movement? Will they be hard workers? Do they truly believe in Reform’s fundamental values of family, community and country? And, like Jenrick, are they prepared to admit publicly that the previous Conservative government broke the country?

These Tory rats will literally say anything to get ahead, and Farage used to understand this:

Never trust a Tory. pic.twitter.com/LRzRq8EKrb

— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) October 29, 2025

Of course, Farage and his MPs would know that you can’t trust them, given the fact that they’re all ex-Tories:

• Nigel Farage – ex Tory, now Reform.
• Richard Tice – ex Tory, now Reform.
• Lee Anderson – ex Tory, now Reform.
• Zia Yusuf – ex Tory, now Reform.
• Sarah Pochin – ex Tory, now Reform.

Reform UK are just the Tories that jumped ship. Establishment through and through. https://t.co/hTHrjFmrPT

— Carter (@carterp0well) March 24, 2025

The Tories 2.0

Towards the end of his piece, Farage says:

So let me make this clear: Reform UK will not become the Conservative Party 2.0. Not today, not ever.

It’s true that Reform will never become the Conservative Party 2.0, but only because it’s never been anything else.

Reform is nothing more than the Tory Party for the rejects who got frozen out of the inner circle.

They know it.

You know it.

And the wealthy donors who used to donate to the Tories know it.

Featured image via Number 10

By Willem Moore

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