Another sitting Tory MP is on defection watch (Image: Getty)

Any such announcement would be yet another brutal blow for beleaguered leader Kemi Badenoch, who is facing mounting speculation about how much time she has left as leader.

A Tory MP was spotted at a Reform event. (Image: Russel Quirk / X)

The Conservative gathering begins this Sunday, and will be one of the Tories’ only opportunities to grab the media spotlight before the Budget.

He said: “I am always happy to attend events in Havering, even those organised by political organisations not connected to my own party. Having positive dialogue and discussion with local residents of Romford is something I do all year round.

Mr Rosindell can be seen at the back of the event. (Image: Reem Ibrahim / X)

He echoed recent calls by Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg for Ms Badenoch and Mr Farage to unite under a single right-wing banner if they want to defeat Sir Keir Starmer in 2029.

“I met many of my Romford constituents there, all of whom had voted for me in the past and I hope will do so again in the future.”

He fell short of completely ruling out a defection in the future, and if he did so he would be the 2nd sitting MP to join Reform after Danny Kruger did so last month.

Mr Rosindell has a long history of being on the right of the party, with firm views on immigration. His seat in Romford is considered to be a target for Reform, with polling indicating they would take the seat at the next election.

Tory MP on ‘Defection Watch’ After Being Spotted at Reform Party Event

A Conservative MP has found herself at the centre of speculation about a possible move to Reform UK after being spotted attending the party’s annual conference, adding to renewed questions about the future of the Tory parliamentary group.

Jane Stephenson was among the Conservative figures seen at Reform UK’s conference in Birmingham earlier this month, according to reporting from the event. Her appearance attracted attention because Reform has already succeeded in persuading a number of former Conservative MPs to cross the floor.

However, there is an important distinction between being seen at a political event and actually defecting. There is currently no confirmation that Stephenson has decided to leave the Conservative Party.

Nevertheless, her presence was enough to revive the wider debate over whether further Conservative MPs could eventually follow Nigel Farage’s party.

A familiar sight at Reform’s conference

Reform UK’s annual conference has increasingly become a gathering place not only for the party’s own politicians and supporters but also for figures with backgrounds in other political parties.

At the September conference, several former Conservative MPs were present, including Nadhim Zahawi, David Jones and Marco Longhi, all of whom had already moved to Reform. Former Labour MP Gavin Shuker was also spotted in the audience.

Stephenson attracted particular attention because, unlike those former Conservatives, she was still a Conservative Party member.

New Dispatch reported that she was seen at the conference despite still being a “card-carrying Conservative”. That distinction immediately made her appearance more politically interesting than the presence of former Tory MPs who had already completed their moves.

It is nevertheless important not to treat attendance as evidence of a decision that has not been announced.

Politicians regularly attend events organised by other parties, meet politicians from rival parties or participate in political discussions without changing their allegiance.

In Stephenson’s case, the available reporting establishes that she was present. It does not establish that she has agreed to join Reform.

Why the speculation matters

The speculation comes against the background of a series of high-profile Conservative defections.

Reform has already attracted several former Conservative MPs, including senior figures with ministerial experience. Robert Jenrick’s move to Reform was particularly significant because he had previously challenged Kemi Badenoch for the Conservative leadership.

Andrew Rosindell subsequently followed, while former home secretary Suella Braverman also left the Conservatives for Reform. The Independent previously reported that Conservative MPs were placed on a “defection watch” list after Jenrick’s departure as concerns grew that other politicians might follow him.

That process has made every appearance by a serving Conservative politician at a Reform event potentially newsworthy.

For Reform, attracting established Conservative politicians provides evidence that the party can appeal to people who previously operated within the traditional Conservative movement.

For the Conservatives, each departure creates another challenge as the party attempts to rebuild after its 2024 general election defeat.

But the political significance of a possible defection should not be confused with the evidence available about any individual MP.

Reform’s expanding political operation

The attraction of Reform is not limited to Westminster.

The party has spent considerable effort developing its organisation, recruiting councillors and establishing itself as a competitor to the Conservatives in different parts of the United Kingdom.

Its growing parliamentary presence has also changed the calculations facing Conservative MPs.

The Independent reported earlier in 2026 that the stream of Tory defections to Reform had slowed significantly after several prominent moves earlier in the year. The newspaper noted that only a small number of Conservative MPs had actually crossed the floor despite a much larger number being discussed as possible defectors.

That is important context for the latest speculation.

Being placed on an informal “defection watch” list does not mean that an MP is preparing to leave. Previous predictions of large-scale defections have not necessarily materialised.

Indeed, several Conservatives who had been identified as possible targets remained in the party.

This demonstrates why individual sightings need to be treated cautiously.

The significance of Kemi Badenoch’s position

For Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, the broader issue remains politically important.

The Conservatives are attempting to establish a clear identity at a time when Reform is competing for many of the same voters.

The two parties have significant differences, but they also compete in areas where voters have historically supported the Conservatives.

That makes defections particularly damaging from a political communications perspective.

When a former Conservative MP joins Reform, Farage can present the move as evidence that his party is attracting experienced politicians. The Conservative leadership, meanwhile, has an incentive to argue that its party remains the principal vehicle for voters who want a centre-right alternative to Labour.

This competition has made the question of Conservative defections a recurring feature of political coverage.

Badenoch has previously faced questions about whether additional members of her party could follow former colleagues to Reform. When Robert Jenrick defected, she said she had acted after being presented with what she described as evidence of a planned move designed to damage the Conservatives.

The episode demonstrated how sensitive the issue had become within the party.

A different political environment

The political environment is also different from that of previous Conservative defections.

Earlier in 2026, there was considerable speculation that Reform could attract a much larger number of Conservative MPs.

The Independent reported in May that Nigel Farage had set a deadline for Conservative MPs considering a move, but the expected wave of defections did not materialise. Only Andrew Rosindell and Suella Braverman had followed Jenrick by that point.

That history provides a useful warning against assuming that every rumour will become reality.

There can be many reasons for an MP to attend a rival party’s conference. Some may be networking, observing political developments, meeting former colleagues or simply taking an interest in a competing party’s organisation.

A public appearance can therefore generate political speculation without necessarily representing a change of party allegiance.

Reform’s conference and the Tory presence

The atmosphere at Reform’s conference nevertheless demonstrated how dramatically Britain’s political landscape has changed.

Former Conservatives were visible throughout the event. Nadhim Zahawi, David Jones and Marco Longhi had already joined Reform, while other politicians and former politicians attended events around the conference.

The presence of serving Conservative figures adds another dimension.

For Reform supporters, it creates the impression that the party is attracting attention beyond its formal membership.

For Conservative supporters, it can raise concerns about discipline and loyalty.

For the politicians themselves, however, attendance does not automatically answer the question of where they intend to stand at the next election.

That remains a separate political decision.

The bigger battle between Reform and the Conservatives

The underlying issue is the continuing competition between Reform and the Conservatives for influence on the political right.

Reform has attempted to portray itself as a break from the established political parties, while the Conservatives are seeking to rebuild their support and demonstrate that they remain capable of representing voters who want lower taxes, tougher immigration policies and a different direction from Labour.

The movement of politicians between the parties has become one visible expression of that contest.

But politicians are not voters, and defections do not automatically translate into equivalent changes in public support.

The Conservatives can lose an MP while retaining supporters elsewhere, just as Reform can gain a former Conservative politician without necessarily gaining the same number of voters.

That distinction is especially important when interpreting reports of possible future defections.

No confirmed switch

For now, the central fact surrounding Stephenson is straightforward: she was reported to have attended Reform’s conference while remaining a Conservative.

That is enough to generate political interest, particularly given the number of former Tory politicians already associated with Farage’s party.

It is not, by itself, evidence that she has decided to defect.

The coming months may provide a clearer indication of whether the Conservative parliamentary party faces another round of defections or whether the speculation fades away.

For Badenoch, the wider challenge remains regardless of what Stephenson ultimately decides. The Conservative leader must manage relations within her own party while competing against a Reform organisation that is actively seeking to attract politicians, donors and voters from across the political spectrum.

For Farage, meanwhile, the sight of serving Conservatives at Reform events provides another opportunity to demonstrate the interest surrounding his party.

But the significance of any individual appearance will ultimately depend on what happens next.

A conference visit can be politically intriguing. A formal defection is something much more concrete.

Until such a move is announced, reports placing a Conservative MP on “defection watch” should be understood as speculation rather than confirmation of a change of party.

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