Lee Anderson should call a by-election after defecting to Reform

Lee Anderson, who has defected from the Tories to Reform, is about to find out that switching parties is not an easy thing to do. Politics is so tribal that most politicians are inclined to stick with ‘their side’ no matter what. When they change sides, it’s worth asking why.

Having once been a Conservative MP in a solid blue constituency, who made the decision to join Ukip – which at the time had never won a parliamentary seat – I know how difficult a decision it can be. Anderson is likely to have had a lot of sleepless nights.  

Cynics might suggest that Anderson, who had already lost the Tory whip, was pushed, rather than jumped. I am not sure that is entirely true. As a former deputy chairman of the party, had Anderson expressed enough contrition over his clumsy comments about Muslims and the Mayor of London, I imagine he would have been able to stand as a Conservative at the looming general election.