Conservative Leader Badenoch Criticizes Defections as Former Defence Minister Joins Reform UK Amid Poor Polling

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch acknowledges the serious challenge her party faces in Wales ahead of the upcoming Senedd election, where polls suggest a poor showing for the Tories. She criticizes former Conservative MPs who have defected to Reform UK, including former defence minister Sarah Atherton, arguing that these defectors are abandoning the party during tough opposition times and will not handle government challenges well. Atherton and other defectors cite failures by the Conservative Party to support the Armed Forces and advocate for Reform UK's clear defence policies, which include increased spending and stronger borders. Some former Tory members and MPs, like Jonathan Gullis, suggest that a coalition between Conservatives and Reform UK might be necessary to keep Labour out of power, reflecting dissatisfaction with previous coalition experiences. Badenoch maintains that despite these defections and poor polling, the Conservatives remain the only party capable of delivering a stronger economy and stronger borders, blaming Labour for worsening conditions such as rising unemployment and inflation. The Conservative Party is bracing for a tough conference amid these internal divisions and external challenges.