Reform UK has gained three former Conservative MPs in one day. Former Conservative deputy chairman Jonathan Gullis confirmed he had joined the party after publicly severing ties with the Conservatives. Gullis, who represented Stoke on Trent North until 2024, said the Conservatives had lost touch with voters and no longer represented the priorities of communities that once formed the core of its support. This development was first reported by the BBC. Reform UK also announced that Chris Green, the former MP for Bolton West, had joined the party. Green had previously resigned from his post as a Conservative parliamentary private secretary in protest at government policy during the pandemic and later criticised the direction of the party leadership. Lia Nici, who represented Great Grimsby, has likewise joined Reform UK after a period of growing frustration with the Conservative Party’s stance on migration and public services. Nici had been a strong supporter of former prime minister Boris Johnson and was among those who publicly challenged the party’s shift in messaging following its defeat. Her defection was confirmed by Reform UK officials. Reports in The Guardian noted growing unease on the Conservative benches about the number of activists, councillors and former MPs drifting toward Reform UK since the election. Their concerns intensified this week as senior party figures privately acknowledged that further defections may follow. Source: The Guardian   Reform UK leader Richard Tice described the influx of former Conservatives as evidence that his party’s message was resonating. Although Reform UK has no elected MPs in the House of Commons, the defections of former Conservative MPs give the party a higher public profile and strengthen its claim to be the primary force challenging the government’s immigration and economic policies from the right. The Times reported that Reform officials expect additional former Conservative candidates to join the party before local elections in the spring.   The Conservative Party responded by stating that party discipline remained intact and insisted that the individuals who left no longer represented the direction in which the party now intends to move. According to reporting from ITV News, senior Conservatives argued that the defections reflected personal political disagreements rather than widespread unrest inside the party. Party sources maintained that they are focused on rebuilding support rather than responding to high profile departures. The departures come at a time when Reform UK has been polling ahead of the Conservatives in several surveys, including those by YouGov. Analysts cited by The Independent noted that the presence of recognisable former MPs could help Reform UK broaden its appeal among voters who feel politically displaced. Reform UK has said it will continue to welcome former Conservative figures who share its priorities on migration, policing and energy policy. The party has been working to expand its regional structures and expects the presence of former MPs to boost fundraising and recruitment efforts. Sky News reported that organisers within Reform UK intend to deploy the new recruits across target constituencies before local campaigns begin early next year....