Dame Andrea Jenkyns declares she's 'home' as she joins Reform UK: 'I've always believed in Nigel!'

Introducing Jenkyns at the conference, leader Nigel Farage told supporters that she is "extraordinary" and has "every chance of winning" the Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire seat.

Speaking to GB News following the announcement, Jenkyns claimed she is now "home" and is more "politically aligned" with the beliefs of Reform UK.

Pressed on why she left the Conservatives to follow Nigel Farage, Jenkyns explained: "I'm politically aligned and I've seen behind the scenes what Zia Yusuf is doing, really professionalising the party and the organisation.

"So I think it's great. But ultimately, what Nigel and the team are saying, I'm at home actually. I'm politically aligned with them. We worked together during the Brexit years, and it feels like now is the right time to do this."

Grilled by GB News on whether she would have stuck with the Tories had Robert Jenrick won the leadership election, Jenkyns stated: "I backed Robert and I backed Priti before him - to me, they are the true Thatcherite Conservatives and I'm aligned with them.

"However, I've always actually believed in Nigel. I put him on my Conservative leaflet - if that's not more of an endorsement for Nigel Farage and what he's doing, then I don't know what it is."

When questioned on how "loyal" she will be be to Reform UK and Nigel Farage, having sent letters of no confidence against Rishi Sunak and Theresa May, Jenkyns assured that there "won't be any problems" as she is "aligned" with the party's beliefs.

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Jenkyns told GB News: "We are politically aligned, and I'll always be an outspoken northerner, that is in my DNA and I'll always call out what I disagree with.

"But ultimately, if I look at the core policies of Reform and what Nigel, Richard and the team's doing, then I'm aligned to them. So to me, there's not going to be any problems."

Discussing the possibility of more Tory MPs joining Reform, Jenkyns grinned as she suggested there have been "conversations in the background" with potential candidates.

Jenkyns added: "There's a few who lost their seat... I mean, I don't want to embarrass them by mentioning their names, I wouldn't do that.

"I'm not mentioning their names, but discussions have been happening in the background, so I guess let's see if others follow."

Turning the discussion to one of Reform's key policies, immigration, Jenkyns hinted at "further policy announcements", but agreed with Farage that the UK should leave the ECHR.

Jenkyns concluded: "There's going to be further policy announcements, and this is my first day here.

"However, to me, what Nigel said about the ECHR, Robert Jenrick was saying this, and I had a petition when I was an MP and we got over 50,000 signatures. I feel this is the way that we're going to control illegal migration."