Latest blow for Farage as another prominent figure quits Reform UK

Reform UK has been dealt another blow today after prominent support Rael Braverman, the husband of prominent Tory Suella Braverman, announced he is quitting the party. Taking to X, Mr Braverman said: "I have left Reform effective immediately".

He did not elaborate on his reason for doing so, though recent tweets suggest he had been left increasingly frustrated about a number of former Tory MPs joining the party. Reacting to Jake Berry's recent defection, Mr Braverman slammed: "Why on earth is the party welcoming the likes of former Chairman of the Tory party, Jake Berry?... Political opportunism." He also appeared angered after a Reform UK source briefed the Mail on Sunday this weekend that the party wouldn't accept the defection of his wife Suella as she was "not a team player" and is "just too disruptive".

This morning, Zia Yusuf also attacked Mrs Braverman for serving in the Home Office at the time the secret Afghan returns scheme was in place.

Mr Braverman joined the party in December, accusing his former Tory Party of becoming |a shadow of what it once stood for" and "betrayed the trust of the British people".

His defection made headlines as it fuelled speculation Mrs Braverman, the former Home Secretary, may also be about to jump ship, which would be Mr Farage's most impressive defection to date.

Responding to Mr Braverman's sensational announcement, Ben Habib who also quit Reform last year said: "I am not surprised. Anyone with a coherent political philosophy which puts the country at its centre is bound to fall out with the bad joke that is Reform UK."

Mr Braverman was approached for comment.

The news comes after two former Tory cabinet ministers announced they were joining Reform UK last week, including Sir Jake Berry and former Welsh Secretary David Jones.

Sir Jake said that his old party has "lost their way" and are set for defeat after "abandoning the British people".

He served in a number of prominent roles over the past few years, including as chairman of the Tory Party during Liz Truss's short-lived government.

Responding to Mr Braverman's announcement, a Tory source quipped that Reform had achieved a 'one in, one out' policy, referencing Keir Starmer's botched migration returns agreement with Emmanuel Macron last week.