Reform UK has gained its seventh MP after Andrew Rosindell switched sides on Sunday night. The longtime Member for Romford was unveiled after a rapid series of talks earlier today. In a statement Nigel Farage said that ‘Andrew is a great patriot. The Tories’ lies and hypocrisy over the Chagos Islands betrayal has tipped him over the edge, and we are delighted to welcome him to our ranks.’ Rosindell is a longtime champion of the British Overseas Territories, an ardent Brexiteer and – at the time of his defection– a serving member of Priti Patel’s shadow foreign affairs team.

Two factors are understood to be responsible for his defection. The first is the aforementioned Chagos deal, the handling of which by the Tory front bench had........

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