Robbie Lammas on why his defection to Reform UK was a "huge mistake."
Robbie Lammas serves as a Councillor in Medway, Kent. He worked for Conservative MPs for over eight years and served as a Special Adviser to the Chairman of the Conservative Party.
He wrote on Conservative Home at
that his decision last year to defect to Reform was an enormous mistake which he now regrets.
Here are some extracts from his article.
"I made a huge mistake leaving the Conservatives last year.
I was wrong and I apologise.
Here’s what happened and why I changed my mind.
Following the worst defeat in its history in 2024, the Conservative Party faced a clear choice: to change radically or to sit back. Many senior Conservative voices urged immediate renewal, but the choice was made and Farage filled that vacuum.
I was very concerned. I too shared a concern that the breadth of the Tory church was too broad and lacked the will to drive through the constitutional restoration and policies that are required to meet the challenges of today, such as leaving the ECHR, examining Judicial Review and unpicking the Equality Act.
Furthermore, with the bond between the individual and the community strained after record high immigration, I understood why Reform was connecting. I thought it was concerned for ‘the fabric of good society’ in the guise of the conservative political philosopher Edmund Burke.
I was honestly worried, as someone who cares deeply about conservative principles, that the Tory flame may have been extinguished for good and Farage offered many Conservatives a home for those who were not yet done with public service.
Indeed, I was told as much. Reform told me that they were a party that welcomes those aligned with conservative values, and who have experience. I was not promised anything nor did I ask for anything.
What I was assured of, however, was that I was one of many, over twenty, that were looking to come over along with a few MPs. I wanted to slip in quietly, not least because I still had much respect for many MPs that I had worked with over the years.
My defection was put on hold. It then transpired that it would be publicised over Conservative Party Conference – and that no MPs would join us. I felt used. Many did warn me, and I should have listened to them. Nonetheless I had made my bed so felt best to crack on and make the best of it.
After all, my initial interactions with my local Reform branches were positive. It was nice to feel the enthusiasm of local members. I gave speeches about how I felt they were all Conservatives really, if only they realised it. I will miss the decent members I got to know which could easily be at home in any Conservative Association.
However, my initial thoughts and hopes were not born out.
The truth is many in Reform hate Conservatives. The only way Tory defectors get on is to outcompete each other in denouncing their former party in a sort of ritualistic purging.
Reform are not an alternative Conservative party. Despite policy disagreements, the Conservatives are fundamentally united by shared values – like one big family. Reform are like one big HMO – they don’t like each other and are united by grievance alone.
Whilst speaking to grievance is a part of politics, good governance depends on those willing to serve in the public interest to fix the problems, not just spin them.
The infighting in Reform is toxic and make past Tory spats look like playground arguments. These are the factions:
- The UKippers – the inner sanctum that dominate the voluntary party hierarchy. Many feel they are on a ‘Christian Crusade’ which paradoxically does not include compassion, tolerance, forgiveness or acceptance. They turn a blind eye when it turns out prospective councillors are secretly big supporters of Tommy Robinson.
- The Reformers – members which pre-date Farage. The strangest thing is just how many in Reform really dislike Nigel Farage. They see him as a ‘necessary evil’ due to his communicative talent. They are resentful at the entryism of late comers who they feel will dilute the spoils owed to them for getting the party off the ground.
- The Tories – they privately admit how much they miss their former Party and how concerned they are with the dysfunction within Reform. They say ‘focus on what you can get out of it’ and ‘just go with the flow’. Many share my concerns but unlike me they are afraid to admit they made a mistake.
The factions deeply distrust each other and perform shadow operations within Reform to undermine each other, in order to avoid one faction getting too powerful. For example, when fellow Tory Nadhim Zahawi defected, I was delighted. I was then surprised to be told of high level discussions to encourage Branch Chairs to write into HQ in a unified protest, in a hope to expel him.
Another issue I had come up over again was how unprofessional the party is. They are not concerned about their own policy; it is here today gone tomorrow. They rewrite their own party rules quarterly to reflect the latest factional battles. The changes serve as a sort of historiography of who’s up and who’s down.
One battle I encountered was over the implementation of local party group meetings. The most foundational organisational tool to locally discuss policy and coordinate your position.
One faction highlighted it as ‘best practice’. I was invited to help produce a handbook for the Party. However, the other faction accused me of inventing ‘Group meetings’ as my very own ‘Tory plan’ to undermine authority in ‘their’ voluntary party. I was ultimately praised for my intention to hold such basic meetings but admonished nonetheless for sowing internal discord.
I did, unfortunately, encounter racism too. I hesitate to say this because people will dismiss it as trope. However, I was told by one senior local member that I was somehow considered ‘less’, because I am a quarter Dutch. This upset me deeply as I am proud of my Dutch heritage. This same person also gives speeches on ethnic nationalism – how only those of suitable ethnic homogeneity should be entitled to nationality.
To be fair, I did encounter racism in the Conservatives in the past too. My 2017 local election running mate made a racist remark. The difference is when he was reported, he was swiftly and permanently removed.
The worst thing for me though was when I was advised to ‘just lie’.
I had an issue with my local Labour administration changing the Council’s constitution in a way both I and a public law barrister I instructed felt was unlawful. Reform backed me initially and then did not due to cost implications. Understandable.
However, when I asked how I was to resolve the matter of publicly committing to one thing and then not following through I was told by a senior figure to “just lie”.
This was just one of many moments which led me to conclude that Reform UK are unserious, unprepared and unfit to govern.
What now? I deeply miss my former colleagues. For all of you political nerds reading this that have sat in one too many meetings with the oldies repeating themselves – cherish them. For when there is no institutional experience, it is alarming.
Reform want people to take them as a start up business. Most startups fail, that is why you have limited liability companies – you are protected from risk. The trouble with Government is that you cannot afford to fundamentally fail if it does not work out. Just take this Labour Government as an example.
I have written to Kemi Badenoch to apologise for my mistake and to recognise that the Conservative Party under her leadership is now changing.
I admit, I was unsure about Kemi last year. I did not know what she stood for. Today, I would encourage any Tory voter who like me was taken in by Farage to take another look at the Conservative Party.
Turns out if you do, you will find that under Kemi the Tories are becoming conservative again."
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