YET another former Tory MP has defected to Reform, bringing to 25 the number of ex-Conservative parliamentarians sheltering in the hard-right party.

The latest defector is Ben Bradley, former MP for Mansfield. His parliamentary career was notable for his making libellous allegations about then-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and having to pay large sums to charities in his constituency as a result.

He said today that trust in the Conservatives “has gone” and is “not coming back.”

Mr Bradley will head up Reform’s local government work. The party seized control of several county councils earlier this year but its new administrations have since been dogged by infighting, incompetence and racism rows.

The influx from Conservative defectors has led to Reform owner-leader Nigel Farage having to fight off claims his insurgent party is actually a “Tory party 2.0.”

Mr Farage has batted off suggestions he was welcoming in too many ex-Tories and defended defections such as that of sitting MP Danny Kruger, who is helping prepare Reform for government.

Reform’s “biggest weakness is a lack of experience,” Mr Farage told a press conference, adding: “We need people with experience of politics, experience of life, experience of management. We’ve been there before.”

Only two sitting MPs, Lee Anderson and Danny Kruger, defected from the Tories, but Reform has become the destination of choice for former Conservative parliamentarians.

These include Lincolnshire Mayor Andrea Jenkyns, who thrilled Reform conference with a rendition of her self-penned song Insomniac, and conspiracist novelist Nadine Dorries.

Reform has been forced to say that the Tory retreads will not get preference for a comeback under the new party’s colours.