Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has suggested his party could see additional defections from Conservative ranks, declaring that further politicians may abandon their "blue rosettes" to join his movement.
Farage's comments followed Tuesday's announcement at the Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells that senior Conservative Senedd Member Laura Anne Jones had switched allegiance to Reform UK.
Speaking on GB News, Farage revealed he anticipates additional defections in Wales whilst establishing strict criteria for accepting new members.
He said: "We've had plenty of Labour defections around the country at council level and even a couple of Lib Dem joiners, which did surprise me.
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"Look, we’re putting together a big campaign for the May elections next year, and we’re doing very well at the moment. We’ve got great talent joining us.
"Laura Anne Jones, joining us today, is someone who understands how the place works. She’s a woman of considerable political passion, and we're delighted to have her on board we really are.
"I mean, after next May, after the Scottish and Welsh elections, I don’t think the Conservative Party will still exist as a national political party.
"So there’ll be lots of people from the Conservative Party who want to join us. That doesn’t mean we’ll take all of them, I can assure you."
Asked if he is expecting further defections soon, the Reform UK leader said: "I am actually. But as I say, if people are coming to Reform simply because they see it as the best life raft for their political careers, then I’m not interested.
"But if they’re coming to Reform because they really believe in what we’re trying to do and they really believe our country is in deep and desperate trouble and needs to be turned around and they want to be part of that project, then the door is open."
Recent polling data indicates Reform UK has experienced substantial growth in Welsh support, capturing 25 per cent of vote.
The surge would position them as Wales's second-largest party, trailing only Plaid Cymru at 30 per cent.
The figures suggest Labour has fallen to third place, with the Conservatives relegated to fourth position ahead of next year's crucial Senedd elections.
The expanded Welsh Parliament will feature 96 seats, representing an increase of more than fifty per cent from the current composition.
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|Nigel Farage praised his newest recruit, describing Jones as "someone who understands how the place works"
Jones's move follows several other notable Welsh defections to Reform UK.
Former Conservative MP for Clwyd West and ex-Welsh Secretary David Jones announced his switch to the party earlier in July.
Additionally, multiple councillors in Merthyr Tydfil revealed their own departures from the Conservatives in June.