Suella Braverman, former Home Secretary and MP for Fareham, announced she was leaving the Conservative Party to join Reform UK at a London event on 26 January. The move surprised many of her constituents. Pub owner Jamie Jewell said he had not received any support from Braverman in the past year and does not wish to see her again. Wine shop owner Roy Gillingham said he was not surprised, noting Braverman’s long‑time support for local businesses and that she remains the same person regardless of party. Long‑time Conservative voter Graham Cull is disappointed but acknowledges the Conservative Party’s current disarray. 70‑year‑old voter Sue Cox called the defection “quite alarming” and worries about voting for an unknown party. Braverman’s defection reflects a broader shift among some UK politicians away from the Conservatives toward Reform UK. The reaction in Fareham is mixed, with some voters willing to back her again and others questioning the move.

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