It might be defection season again. Rupert Lowe, recently suspended from Reform UK, is reportedly in talks with senior Conservatives about joining their ranks. If true, it would be a major shake-up for both parties.
🤝 Meetings behind closed doors
According to The Sun, Lowe has already met with two senior Tory MPs. Sources suggest the Conservatives see him as an ideal recruit to boost their election chances.
One insider claims the former Southampton FC owner is “not ruling anything out” at this stage. Meanwhile, multiple Tory figures have apparently reached out to gauge his interest. So far, Lowe hasn’t publicly denied the claims.
😡 Reform meltdown: Lowe vs Farage
Lowe’s suspension earlier this month came after he labelled Nigel Farage “messianic” and was then accused of intimidating Reform Chair Zia Yusuf. The fallout has cost him the whip, leaving Reform with just four MPs—the same number as the Green Party.
Farage has already dismissed any chance of Lowe returning to the fold, making a Tory switch seem even more likely.
🔀 Could the Tories and Reform join forces?
If Lowe defects, it could reignite discussions of an alliance—or even a full merger—between Reform and the Conservatives. The idea has been floated before, with some suggesting Farage could take on a leadership role in a united right-wing movement.
For now, though, Lowe would be making history as the first Reform MP to cross the floor to the Tories. The reverse has already happened—Lee Anderson jumped ship from the Conservatives to Reform last year.
With both parties struggling to define their futures, perhaps their differences aren’t so impossible to overcome after all…
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