Former Conservative MP defects to Reform

Former Conservative MP Adam Holloway, who represented Gravesham between 2005 to 2024, has defected to Reform

A former Conservative MP of nearly 20 years has announced his defection to join Nigel Farage's Reform party.

Adam Holloway represented Gravesham from 2005 to 2024 before losing his seat in last year's general election to Labour's Lauren Sullivan.

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Holloway outlined his reasons for joining Reform while stressing he was not solely motivated by ambitions to become an MP again.

Conservative Party member and former MP for South Thanet, Lord Craig Mackinlay, said he was "sorry" that Mr Holloway had left, adding his party was best placed to defeat Labour.

Mr Holloway admitted he had previously posted on social media "a vote for Reform is a vote for Labour", but said he "no longer believed" in that statement.

When asked whether his defection was motivated by an opportunity to become MP for Gravesham again, Mr Holloway insisted he was not a "careerist".

He added while it was "on his mind" the possibility that Reform would give him a stronger chance of getting back into Parliament, he insisted he "didn't have any expectations" of being Gravesham MP after the next election.

"I have joined Reform because I think this is the best chance to recover the country from Labour," he said.

Mr Holloway, who was a former British Army officer, said the Conservatives currently "do not provide an effective opposition" and saw joining Reform as a "rescue mission".

"The issue is the country has serious social and economic problems, and potentially an economic disaster in the next couple of years during a time of great global insecurity," he said.

He added he did not believe Reform was perfect, but stressed it was the "only party to see and feel the extent of the country's problems".

Lord Craig Mackinlay was previously the MP for South Thanet

Lord Mackinlay said his former colleague was a "talent" in his party and was "upset" that he would not be contesting the next election as a Conservative.

"We've got a lot of work to do to make sure we've got a Conservative party ready to win elections and form the next government," he added.

Other former Conservative MPs to have joined Reform since the last election include former party chairperson Sir Jake Berry, former Wales secretary David Jones and Dame Andrea Jenkyns, who won the Greater Lincolnshire mayoralty for the party in May.

Mr Farage said he was "delighted" to welcome Mr Holloway to the party, saying his parliamentary and military experience would be "vital" ahead of the next election.

He added: "His bold move shows that we are the only serious option in Kent and is testament to the fantastic work our councillors are delivering across the region."

Mr Holloway worked as a journalist for ITV and ITN before his election to Parliament in 2005.

A strong supporter of Brexit, he was briefly a whip under Boris Johnson and Liz Truss and was one of six Tory MPs to vote against censuring Mr Johnson after he was found to have misled the Commons over the Partygate scandal.

Additional reporting by PA.