Matt Chorley's Urgent Questions Are ex-Tory MPs a help or a hindrance for Farage?
Jan 12, 2026
Michael Crick, an investigative journalist known for his incisive political analysis, and Carolyn Quinn, an esteemed BBC political correspondent, delve into the intriguing world of reform politics. They discuss the implications of ex-Tory MPs joining Nigel Farage's Reform UK, weighing the experience they bring against the risk of alienating core supporters. The conversation also touches on Nadhim Zahawi's controversial defection and the uneasy dynamics within the party, before playfully transitioning to debates about the perfect pie.
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Reform's Freshness Vs Experience Tension
- Nigel Farage and Reform UK balance anti-establishment branding with recruiting experienced ex-Conservative figures.
- That tension risks making Reform look like a reconstituted Tory party rather than a fresh alternative.
Experience Comes With Legitimacy Costs
- Bringing former Conservatives gives Reform government experience but undermines its anti-establishment appeal.
- Michael Crick warns members may view many arrivals as 'has-beens' rather than assets.
Old Warnings About Nadhim Zahawi
- Michael Crick recounts warning Conservatives about Nadhim Zahawi years earlier over Sunday Times allegations.
- He notes Zahawi never sued over those claims, implying lingering questions about his past.