Reform UK’s Chairman has revealed to GB News that they are expecting “imminent” defections from the Labour Party.
Speaking to GB News, Dr David Bull said there are “many people” jumping the Labour ship to join Nigel Farage’s force “across all levels”, from local to parliamentary.
The revelation comes after ex-Tory Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi cut ties with the Conservatives to join Reform UK, declaring “Britain needs Reform”.
Announcing his defection today, Mr Zahawi said: “I’ve made my mind up that the team that will deliver for this nation will be the team that Nigel will put together, and that’s why I’ve decided that I’m joining Reform UK.”
Hailing Mr Zahawi’s decision, Mr Bull told GB News: “Since I took over as Chairman, I am professionalising the party. We have gone from 90,000 members to 271,000 members. As you know, we are strengthening the team. We now have 450 branches around the country and the point is that we want the best and the brightest in terms of defections.
“We have five members of Parliament in terms of defections. We are taking people from across the political spectrum, as long as you subscribe to our values and that you understand the mission that we’re in. And Nadhim is a fantastic addition to that team.”
Highlighting that the addition of the ex-Chancellor gives Reform valuable experience, he added: “One of the accusations which has been levelled at us, and I think it is fair actually, whilst we have brilliant people with great experience in many different walks of life, do we have experience of running the country and being in Government? And the answer to that is no.
“And that’s the reason why actually the defection Danny Kruger is so important in terms of preparing for Government, and that’s why actually Nadhim coming over is absolutely brilliant.”
Dr David Bull has teased ‘imminent’ Labour defections to Reform UK after ex-Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi joined Nigel Farage’s party
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GB NEWS / PA
Quizzed by host Martin Daubney on when they can “expect somebody from the Labour Party to cross the floor”, Mr Bull teased: “Imminently.”
Pressed for more information, the Chairman said: “I can’t say anymore, Martin. The whole point is we’re keeping our cards dry, but there are many people coming across at local level, at councillor level, who are former Labour members and supporters who are already joining this party.
“In terms of parliamentarians, we are seeing more people coming towards us, but we are turning people down as well, because actually we’re in a really strong position. This is not a retirement home for failed politicians, this is a party on the rise, on the ascendancy.
“And actually, when I was sitting there today, I thought I’ve been there since the beginning. We were polling at two, three per cent. I was deputy leader at that time. To be polling at 32, 33 per cent now, I actually think we’re an unstoppable force.”
Nigel Farage has teased more defections to come after ex-Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi stunned Tories with shock switch | GETTY
Looking ahead to the next set of local elections, Mr Bull told GB News: “So as we go into the next phase of what we’re doing, and of course May the 7th is going to be very important in terms of Wales and Scotland and actually the elections in London as well.
“We have to prove that we’re competent, not only just running local councils, but we’re actually going to be competent in Government as well. What we have to do is defeat the blob, make sure the civil service works for the elected politicians, and people like Nadhim will be absolutely brilliant at that.”
He added: “Remember, he’s an absolutely fantastic businessman. He set up YouGov, so he knows what he’s talking about. He was Chancellor, this is a man who knows how politics work, and he will strengthen our team going forward.”
Questioned by Martin on the resurfacing of Mr Zahawi’s tweets, where he criticised Mr Farage, the Reform Chairman defended the party’s latest defectee.
Mr Bull told GB News that Nadhim Zahawi is a ‘brilliant’ addition to Reform UK
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GB NEWS
Mr Bull said: “It’s okay to have ideas and to actually throw them around. In terms of those tweets, though, that was 2015. We were in the middle of an election and people say things because they’re tribal politicians.
“But just in terms of the vaccine roll out, and I just want to be very clear about this, Nadhim was tasked with rolling out the vaccine. It was a logistical exercise and he did it with aplomb. And the reason, and the reason that vaccine roll out works so efficiently and well is because we had left the European Union. If we had not done that, we would not have been able to roll that vaccine out.”
He concluded: “Now, actually, in terms of looking at who should be vaccinated, that is an entirely different question. And that was down to valence and witty and the those people that made those decisions.
“And I would argue that actually they got those calls wrong. But actually what Nadhim Zahawi did I think is admirable, what he did. He was tasked to roll out that vaccine and he did it very well indeed.”
