Conservative MP Suella Braverman has been forced to deny that she would defect to Reform UK if she loses the upcoming Tory leadership contest.
The former Home Secretary is reportedly struggling to garner enough support from within her party to secure the top job, with sources from both sides now expecting her to jump ship to Nigel Farage's party.
A spokesperson for Braverman has said: "Suella has only recently been elected as a Conservative MP and has been a Conservative Party member for three decades."
Speaking to GB News, political commentator Charlie Rowley claimed that although it may be "a good fit for Suella and a good fit for Reform", the move would "not be a good look" for the former Home Secretary.
Suella Braverman has been tipped to defect to Reform UK as the Tories battle to find a new party leader
PA
A Reform UK source told The i newspaper that the party "expects her to defect after losing the Tory leadership race", perhaps in the Autumn.
Reacting to the reports, Rowley told GB News: "I'm sure Reform would love to have a former Home Secretary, someone who's actually held a cabinet position and has been in fair ranks.
"But I don't think it's the right move really at all. The idea that there's this conversation about her leaving to join Reform is not a good look for her."
Discussing her chances of success in the upcoming Tory leadership election, Rowley claimed Braverman has "lost support" from fellow party members, with the favourite candidates currently being Tom Tugendhat and Robert Jenrick.
The Tories are set to spark a leadership contest after former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak suffered an agonising defeat in the General Election
PA
Rowley explained: "The idea that Suella Braverman is now having to say, no, I'm not quitting the Conservative Party, even before the leadership firing gun has even been shot off, is not a good look.
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"She's lost support because I think most people recognise that the Conservative Party has to heal. It has to have someone that brings people together after what has been a cataclysmic defeat for the Conservative Party."
Noting Braverman's previous controversies during her time as Home Secretary, Rowley claimed that her "extreme views" have "done the opposite" of uniting the Conservatives post-General Election.
He added: "She's done the complete opposite by being even more extreme in her views, even more isolationist in terms of her rhetoric and doubling down.
"That has frightened colleagues, which is why people are talking about Robert Jenrick being the more sensible of the two in terms of the right, and people like Tom Tugendhat. "
Charlie Rowley said the move would 'not be a good look' for Suella Braverman
GB News
Turning the discussion to the Labour Party amid the Tory chaos, Rowley was asked by host Dawn Neesom if the changes already being implemented by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will result in an "end to the honeymoon period".
Rowley agreed, telling GB News: "I think it will come to an end quite quickly. This is not a government that I think these people really wanted - they voted for change, but I don't think this is the change they wanted.
"They certainly didn't want ever closer ties to the EU. They wanted the small boats crisis to stop, but is this the way in which it's going to stop?
"By giving even more money to France and having an amnesty on the 90,000 backlog cases that we have in this country already? I don't think that's what the public wants."
