The Tory defections to Reform are continuing to mount up, with former home secretary Suella Braverman the latest to cross the floor this morning. Braverman’s defection has been hailed as a coup by Nigel Farage, who pointed out she is ‘somebody who’s reached high office in the cabinet.’ But there is an important question the Reform leader keeps avoiding: why aren’t these ex-Tories holding by-elections? 

Nigel Farage’s superpower is the impression that he’s not like any other politician. That he sticks to his guns, tells it like it is, and acts on principle. And yet on this issue, he is being nakedly hypocritical

As Ukip leader in 2014, Farage rightly insisted both Douglas Carswell and Mark Reckless trigger by-elections after crossing the floor. Both duly won the ensuing contests. On his GB News show in 2022, reacting to the defection of Christian Wakeford to Labour, Farage reiterated his position, saying Wakeford was ‘dishonourable’. ‘It is a........

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