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Former Tory MP Jonathan Gullis told the Daily Expresso podcast he was "more interested in fighting for what Conservatism actually is" than in joining Reform UK, just weeks before defecting to Nigel Farage's party yesterday. Mr Gullis, who lost his Stoke-on-Trent North seat to Labour after Reform walked away with 18% of his vote last election, repeatedly insisted he would stay loyal to the Conservatives despite sharing Reform's "sentiments" and "vision". Now the ex-Red Wall MP has become the latest in a string of Tory defections to Reform, rubbishing his public pledges to stick with Kemi Badenoch's ailing party.

Speaking on the Daily Expresso last month, Mr Gullis was asked whether he would join Farage's insurgent movement. "Of course I share a lot of the sentiments, the vision, of what Reform UK is offering," he admitted. "But I tell you what, I am also actually more interested in fighting for what Conservatism actually is."

He added: "Conservatism can belong both in Reform and in the Conservative Party", comments that now appear to have foreshadowed his defection.

Mr Gullis has previously been scathing about Lee Anderson's decision to defect to Reform in 2023, telling the BBC there was "absolutely not a cat's hell in change" he would follow suit.

The former-MP was used as an "attack dog" against Reform by Conservative Campaign Headquarters, according to a source inside the party. His defection came as a surprise to some.

"Nearly half my life has been dedicated to the Conservative Party cause," Mr Gullis insisted on the BBC in 2023, after he confirmed he had joined aged just 18, and held numerous local and national positions within the party since then.

He claimed it took "real moral courtage to stay in there and fight for what you believe in" adding that he did not believe Mr Adnerson had needed to defect to Reform.

"For me it takes courage of conviction and belief to sometimes stay within something, like a political party where you have very different views within that, and fight for what you believe in," he said.

A clip of his interview on the BBCs Politics Live show was circulated on social media last night after his defection.

When asked about the change, Kemi Badenoch, the Tory Leader blasted Reform as wanting "more welfare", she added that if defectors "want to go to Reform so that they can have more welfare, then maybe that's the right place for them."

She added: "Reform are not interested in what's happening to people out there, what's going on [with] the money in their pockets, the cost of living. All they're interested in is attacking Conservatives."

On the Daily Expresso, Mr Gullis has previously called for a coalition with Reform UK and the Conservatives after the next election, if it meant blocking a left-wing government.

"In the red wall it's a dead fight between Reform and Labour," he warned.

He spoke out against the Conservatives' push for Net Zero and welcomed Kemi Badenoch's decision to drop the policy.

"I understand why people are looking at Reform UK," he told the podcast. "What I would say is that they need to make sure they think very carefully about what type of Conservatism they want. I think that is the current issue for the Conservative Party."

Mr Gullis suggested that the Conservatives are unlikely to make inroads in the Red Wall next election, as he called for reindustrialisation, control of the borders, and a fairer economy across the UK.

In another podcast appearance, he slammed the BBC for pushing a "pro-remain, pro-second referendum agenda" during the Brexit debates.

He claimed the BBC was "fascinated with people like Nigel Farage" because they wanted to "make him a social pariah, which only helps drive the vote to Reform UK".

But tensions between Mr Gullis and Reform were also apparent. Last year, Richard Tice, Reform's Deputy Leader, issued a threatening "special Easter message" on X.

"Given the multiple bits of embarrassing personal information we have on you, I suggest you pipe down on your attacks against me," Mr Tice wrote on March 31, 2024.

Announcing his defection yesterday, Mr Gullis claimed: "Leaving the Conservative Party after 18 years is not a decision I have taken lightly.

"Over time, I have watched a party I once believed in lose touch with the people it was meant to serve.

"From failing to control both legal and illegal migration to pursuing a net zero agenda that has seen a rise in our household energy bills and put jobs in Stoke-on-Trent's world famous ceramics sector at risk, the Conservative Party has understandably lost the trust of the British people."