Nigel Farage was understandably ecstatic on Monday morning as he served up his greatest ace to date: the defection to Reform UK of a Tory shadow minister.

In a major coup, Danny Kruger unexpectedly announced he was crossing the floor because he believes the “Conservative Party is over”.

To rub salt in the wound, he will now be leading up Reform’s new “preparing for government” team.

Having served as Kemi Badenoch’s junior work and pensions minister since November, Kruger’s dramatic move makes him the most senior sitting MP to make the switch to Reform UK yet.

But he joins a list of former Tory MPs who are starting to believe it will be impossible to turn the party’s fortunes around after the disastrous result of the 2024 general election.

Boris Johnson supporter and ex-culture

See Full Page