This latest blow for the Tories is significant because it shows that professional politicians, not just angry ideologues, are now willing to follow Nigel Farage, writes political editor David Maddox

Sir Jake Berry, who was chairman of the Tories under Liz Truss and a staunch Boris Johnson ally has defected to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK

The former Tory chairman is no political heavyweight. He is just desperate to remain relevant