Now this would be two prime cuts of medium-rare irony. New figures released from Polling Report UK makes for grim reading for Reform, whose recent slump in the polls has seen them fall behind Labour and lose their long-lasting lead. However, two of their MPs may harbour more concern than most.
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Polling forecast spells bad news for Reform’s defected MPs
Both Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman have crossed the floor within the last 12 months, ditching the Conservative Party and opting for a different shade of blue on their rosettes by joining Reform. The pair have since repeatedly criticised the previous government – which they were integral parts of.
Hypocrisy aside, the MPs for the respective constituencies of Newark and Fareham retained their seats following the defections. But, despite their high political capital, it seems that reputation alone won’t be enough for either of them to continue in their current roles.
The situation is fluid, and the margins are relatively small. There have been whispers of a ‘snap election’ following Andy Burnham’s appointment as Prime Minister – but the Labour leader has moved to dismiss these rumours, and the next national vote remains slated for 2029.
Suella Braverman on course to lose seat to former employers
However, if a General Election were to be held tomorrow, the projections from Polling Report UK indicate that Suella Braverman would be on the wrong end of a tight result. She is forecast to LOSE her seat in Fareham and Waterlooville, to the party she abandoned earlier this year, no less.
Robert Jenrick facing battle to win with Reform in ‘True Blue’ territory
A similar fate awaits Robert Jenrick, according this dataset. However, he may be facing a more daunting prospect than his colleague. He’s predicted to finish roughly 12 percentage points behind any prospective Tory candidate in Newark, with voters appearing more inclined to back parties rather than individuals.
Perhaps the grass isn’t greener on the other side after all…