A former Conservative cupboard minister has introduced he has left the social gathering to hitch Reform UK.
Jones, who was the MP for Clwyd West from 2005 till standing down in 2024, mentioned he had stop the Tories after “greater than 50 years of steady membership”.
Jones served as secretary of state for Wales beneath David Cameron between 2012 and 2014, and later as a minister within the Division for Exiting the EU beneath Theresa Could (2016-2017).
Thought of on the fitting of the Conservative Occasion, he additionally served as deputy chairman of the European Analysis Group (ERG) of eurosceptic Tory MPs from 2019 to 2024.
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Jones, 72, joined the Conservative Occasion in 1970.
He informed GB Information in a press release: “Right now, Reform UK is the social gathering that greatest represents my views — and, I consider, these of many others who’ve turn out to be disillusioned with the 2 outdated main events.
“Throughout the nation, persons are rightly involved in regards to the rising value of dwelling, the escalating disaster of unlawful immigration, and the regular erosion of our nationwide sovereignty.
“Neither the federal government nor the official opposition is addressing these points with the urgency or resolve they demand — certainly, the federal government is actively surrendering our sovereignty at an alarming fee.
“Solely Reform UK is demonstrating the willpower wanted to deal with the nation’s many issues and to enhance the lives of individuals throughout Britain.”
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He added: “I left the Conservative Occasion in January, bringing to an finish greater than 50 years of steady membership. It was, naturally, a really tough resolution for me.
“As a matter of courtesy, I wrote to the social gathering chairman in October to tell him of my intention to not renew my membership. I didn’t obtain a reply.
“I joined the Conservatives all these years in the past as a result of I believed it was the social gathering that greatest mirrored my values and beliefs. Regrettably, that’s not the case.”
Jones additionally clarified that he was not becoming a member of Reform UK with any intention to face for elected workplace once more.
He mentioned: “I’ve joined Reform UK as a personal particular person and don’t have any intention of in search of elected workplace. However I’ll give the social gathering my full help within the elections forward.”
Jones’ defection comes after that of Anne Marie Morris, the previous Conservative MP for Newton Abbott, final week. It was introduced that Marie Morris will lead Reform’s social care coverage.
Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, like Jones a former Conservative cupboard minister, described his defection as “an actual coup” for Reform chief Nigel Farage.
He informed GB Information: “I feel he’s the largest determine that Reform has received to defect up to now, as you say, a former secretary of state, any person who was very talked-about within the Home of Commons, wise, first rate man, cheap views, he’s not in any sense a headbanger.”
Josh Self is editor of Politics.co.uk, comply with him on Bluesky right here and X right here.
Politics.co.uk is the UK’s main digital-only political web site. Subscribe to our every day e-newsletter for all the most recent information and evaluation.
