Former Conservative cupboard minister and MP David Jones has joined Reform UK.
Jones, who stepped down as a Conservative MP forward of final yr’s election, mentioned he had change into “disillusioned” by his previous social gathering and that solely Reform was “demonstrating the dedication wanted to deal with the nation’s many issues”.
The previous Welsh Secretary added that he wouldn’t search elected workplace for Reform however would “give the social gathering my full help within the elections forward”.
He turns into the third former Tory MP to affix Nigel Farage’s social gathering within the final two weeks, following Ross Thomson and Anne Marie Morris.
The Conservative Social gathering has been approached for remark.
Jones was a Conservative Social gathering member for greater than 50 years and represented the Clwyd West constituency from 2005 till 2024.
He served as Secretary of State for Wales from 2012-14 below David Cameron and was a Brexit minister from 2016-2017 below Theresa Might.
In his assertion launched through Reform, Jones mentioned: “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 now not the case.
“Right this moment, Reform UK is the social gathering that greatest represents my views – and, I imagine, these of many others who’ve change into disillusioned with the 2 previous main events.”
He mentioned individuals throughout the nation had been involved about the price of dwelling, 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 charge,” he added.
