'Why would Reform even want Suella?' We explore whether Braverman will join the 4 million revolt and join Farage
Suella Braverman and Nigel Farage
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“It makes sense for Suella to go to Reform if she wants a future in politics,” a top Tory source told GB News.
The former Home Secretary, known as a figurehead on the Tory Right, is seen as the main contender to defect to the populist party.
Braverman last night spectacularly pulled out of the 2024 Conservative leadership race after being widely tipped to mount yet another bid.
The Fareham & Waterlooville MP received the support of 27 predominantly Brexit-backing MPs before crashing out in the second round of the 2022 contest.
Suella BravermanPAHowever, with a number of former allies endorsing leadership rivals, Braverman was unable to count on a single MP to publicly support her bid.
The 44-year-old was scathing of her Conservative colleagues as she announced her decision to dodge the contest.
The former Home Secretary said: “Although I’m grateful to the 10 MPs who wanted to nominate me for the leadership, getting onto the ballot is not enough.”
Conceding it was not enough to mount a serious leadership bid, Braverman added: “There is, for good or for ill, no point in someone like me running to lead the Tory Party when most of the MPs disagree with my diagnosis and prescription.
“The traumatised party does not want to hear these things said out loud. Instead, platitudes about ‘unity’ are fashionable. That’s all fine but it’s not honest.”
Despite being critical of her Conservative colleagues, not everyone is convinced Braverman wants to defect to Reform UK.
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Nigel Farage was speaking at a Reform UK conference PA Addressing speculation about the former Home Secretary, Nigel Farage said: “There’s a place for like-minded people but is that what she wants?”
A Reform UK insider even suggested Braverman would wait until after the leadership contest before considering defecting.
However, Braverman today appeared to voice support for Rishi Sunak’s successor.
“I wish all the candidates the best and will support the new leader from the backbenches for a Conservative revival,” she said.
Rejecting the suggestion, a spokesperson for Braverman also said: “Suella has only recently been elected as a Conservative MP and has been a Conservative Party member for three decades.”
Taking a swipe at the Tories, Braverman yesterday added: “Nigel Farage destroyed us. We have no hope of recovery until we win back the trust of the four million.
“Branding them as racists and comparing their events to Nuremberg rallies did not work during the campaign and it won’t work now.”
Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman
PAFarage received a boost earlier this year after Lee Anderson opted to switch from the Tories to Reform UK.
However, the populist party has so far failed to convince any other sitting Tory MPs to cross-over.
A former No10 insider claimed Braverman would provide some experience to the rebranded Brexit Party.
They said: “If they [Reform] want to build momentum, they need someone with top Government experience.”
GB News understands Reform UK is not keen to discuss speculation about Braverman.
However, a source from the populist party simply said: “Let’s wait and see.”
Another insider was far more cautious about Braverman defecting to Reform UK.
They instead stressed the Fareham & Waterlooville MP is an “old timer” within Conservative ranks.
Reform UK in Westminster HallREFORM UKDespite rumours swirling round Westminster, Braverman was re-elected as the MP for Fareham & Waterlooville with a majority slashed from 21,276 to just 6,079.
Reform UK ended up falling behind Labour and the Liberal Democrats, picking up 9,084 votes.
However, Braverman's journey from Tory activist to firebrand MP can be traced for decades.
Braverman’s mother Uma Fernandes even stood for the Tory Party, challenging now-Foreign Secretary David Lammy in Tottenham in 2001 and running in the Brent East by-election held in 2003.
The former Home Secretary spent a long time standing in no-hope electoral contests, including Leicester East in 2005 and as fourth choice on the Tories’ 2012 London list.
She also took on a number of high profile ministerial briefs since entering Parliament in 2015, serving Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak.
However, Sunak decided to sack Braverman after the then-Home Secretary accused the Metropolitan Police of “play[ing] favourites” with pro-Palestine protesters.
A well-connected Tory source told GB News that Reform UK should look to avoid accepting Braverman into the populist party’s fold after a number of controversial moments since leaving the Home Office.
The insider asked: “Why would Reform even want Suella Braverman?”