Robert Jenrick’s defection represents a significant sign of fracturing in one of the world’s most consistently successful political parties.

The populist Reform party is suing the UK government, challenging proposals that may delay local elections, according to a court order.

Britain's former Conservative Party leadership candidate Robert Jenrick became the biggest-name defector to Nigel Farage's right-wing Reform UK on Thursday, saying the nation was broken and its two mainstream political parties rotten.

Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has launched a legal challenge against the government over local election delays, calling on the High Court to block postponement. The populist party, which is leading in national opinion polls,

Reform UK has grown from a fringe euroskeptic movement into a major force in British politics. By railing against immigration and the rising cost of living, the party led by Brexit figurehead Nigel Farage has siphoned support from the governing Labour party and Conservative opposition to fracture the old two-party system.

Announcement of Robert Jenrick's move announced hours after his sacking by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch for 'plotting' to defect to Reform in a 'damaging' way

To voters up and down the country, Reform has sought to cast itself as an insurgent, anti-establishment party. At the same time, it has been quietly building relationships with financial giants in the City of London and some of the UK’s most influential lobbying agencies, whose clients include blue-chip multinational corporations.

Reform UK sees a record high in latest polls as the Conservative party support collapses. Sunak faces backlash after reshuffle and Braverman sacking.

Britain's main opposition Conservative Party was on Thursday caught up in a top-level row over allegations another senior Tory was planning to join Nigel Farage's anti-immigration Reform UK party.His ouster comes days after former Conservative finance minister Nadhim Zahawi announced he had joined Reform.