Defeated Conservative MP Adam Holloway defects to Reform UK
Adam Holloway represented Gravesham in Kent for 19 years and served as a government whip under Boris Johnson and Liz Truss.
He left Parliament in 2024 after losing to Labour's Lauren Sullivan by 2,712 votes.
Mr Holloway told ITV News Meridian: 'I believe Reform are the only people who are serious and able to do something about the peril this country is in.
'The Tory party have still got loads of fabulous people but I just don't think, from where they are now, they're going to be able to win an election, get rid of Labour and start undoing some of the damage.'
Asked if he was switching sides simply to try to win his old Gravesham seat back, Mr Holloway replied: 'Yeah, of course that is partly on my mind.'
He added: 'I'm not coming to Reform expecting to be allowed to run in my old seat. I'm coming to Reform because I care about this country.'
Reform UK failed to win any parliamentary seats in Kent in the 2024 general election.
However, in May's local elections the party ousted the Conservatives from Kent County Council, winning an outright majority.
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