Sir Jake Berry has declared that Britain is "broken" and Reform UK are the only party with the "vision to rebuild Britain again".

The ex-Conservative Party Chairman announced his move on social media last night, declaring his former party had "lost its way".

In a statement shared by Reform UK, Berry wrote: "For 25 years, I was proud to call myself a Conservative. But let’s not kid ourselves, Britain is broken. It didn’t start with Labour. The Conservative Governments I was part of share the blame."

Speaking to GB News following his defection, Berry told Political Editor Christopher Hope: "I have decided that Britain is broken and I don't think this will be a surprise to GB News viewers.

Jake Berry defended his defection to Reform UK from the Tories, claiming Britain is 'broken'

"They can see me on your channel quite often setting out the concerns I have with immigration and the taking away of support from children with the abolition of the Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP)."

Heaping praise on party leader Nigel Farage, Berry cast doubt on the other main parties and their ability to "rebuild Britain".

Berry said: "I don't believe even having been at the centre of Government for 14 years as a Conservative MP, that either of the old parties have a plan to build Britain back into the country that we can be proud of again.

"Nigel Farage is straight talking, he's head of a party that listens to people, listens to their concerns.

"He's the right man for the job, and I'm going to spend however long it is between now and the next election and beyond, campaigning to ensure that he has made our Prime Minister and that Reform form the next Government here in the UK."

Berry is the second ex-Conservative Cabinet minister in three days to have jumped ship in a hammer blow to Kemi BadenochGETTY

Asked by Christopher if he spoke to Tory leader Kemi Badenoch about his departure, Berry admitted he is "not in touch" with her.

Berry explained: "Look, I'm not in touch with Kemi. In fact, I left the Conservative Party a while ago. I stopped being a member of the Conservative Party a while ago. I've been on quite a long journey.

"I found myself getting sort of more and more concerned about the state of Britain, and I know that Nigel Farage and the Reform Party are the party who have the vision, the values to ensure that Britain can be rebuilt again."

Making clear that the decision was "not easy", Berry added: "It's not a very easy thing to do to leave a political party that you've supported for over 30 years. It was a huge decision.

Berry told GB News that the opportunity for change is 'with Reform'

"It's not one I've taken lightly, but we've got a choice here in this country. We can either wring our hands and say decline is our destiny, or we can stand and fight, fight to make things better, fight for a better Britain.

"And by joining Reform, by supporting Nigel Farage to be our next Prime minister, that's the choice I've made."

Pressed by Berry on whether the move was "opportunistic" given the surging popularity of Reform, Berry disagreed: "Call it opportunistic or not, I really hope the Reform Party does win the next election, because I think it's the only thing that can get Britain moving again.

"We as a nation, in my view, are drinking in the Last Chance Saloon, we've got one more chance to get this right.

"I don't think any of the traditional parties have what it takes to do that.

"There's an opportunity for real change and things like reducing taxes, getting control of our borders, doing all the things that people are crying out for in this country, and that opportunity exists within Reform."