POLL OF THE DAY: Do you think Lee Anderson was right to join Reform? - YOUR VERDICT

It comes as several polls have placed Reform UK in third place behind Labour and the Conservatives.

Sources close to Reform UK told GB News that as many as nine Conservative MPs are now in advanced talks to join the party.

Speaking at the press conference today, Lee Anderson said: "I’ll start by saying I want my country back.

"Over the last year or so I have done a lot of soul searching on my political journey.

"I don’t expect much in politics other than to be able to speak my mind and to be able to speak on behalf of my friends and family and some of my constituents.

"My opinions are not controversial, these are opinions shared by millions up and down the country.

"It is no secret that I’ve been talking to my friends in Reform for a while.

"And Reform UK has offered me the chance to speak out in Parliament on behalf of millions of people up and down the country who feel that they’re not being listened to.

“People will say that I’ve took a gamble. And I’m prepared to gamble on myself, as I know from my mailbag how many people in this country support Reform UK and what they have to say.

"And like millions of people up and down the country, all I want is my country back.”

At the conference, GB News asked Anderson: "Lee, on January 2 you said Reform is not the answer, it leaves the door open for Sir Keir Starmer what has changed in 10 weeks and how can voters trust you at the election when you have so publicly betrayed the Tories? "

Anderson responded saying: "A big thing changed last week and that was the election of Mr Galloway coming into Parliament.

"We have to fight back as a country and the only the only party offering that fightback is Reform UK."

94 per cent of GB News members who voted in the poll agreed with the statement that Lee Anderson was right to join Reform, while only five per cent disagreed with the statement.