The MP caused particular hurt to local Conservatives by saying that the party was ‘over’.
Richard Clewer, leader of the Conservative group on Wiltshire Council, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “Personally I’m very disappointed. Danny was elected as a Conservative a little over a year ago, and people voted for a Conservative candidate.
“He was out campaigning for the Conservatives in the run-up to the May 2025 local elections – there was no sign of it then.
“Nationally the party has been heading to the right, and you’d have thought that would have suited him.
“Most surprising, he’s a fiscally conservative politician and Reform’s latest budget proposals have an £80 billion black hole – even bigger than Rachel Reeves’
“If he is so confident that the people of East Wiltshire want a Reform MP he should stand down to allow for a by-election.”
The view was echoed by Brian Burchfield, chairman of Melksham and Devizes Conservative Association. Mr Kruger was selected to stand for the Devizes constituency ahead of the 2019 election.
“As the former representative for the Devizes area, we are deeply disappointed to learn that Danny Kruger MP has chosen to join Reform UK – a privately-run party that appears more focused on private interest than public service, while advocating for increased welfare spending and higher taxes.
“If, as Mr Kruger claims, ‘the results are in the polls’, then we would urge him to do the right thing: resign his seat and trigger a by-election.
“His constituents deserve the opportunity to choose their Member of Parliament based on the party they stood for at election – not one they’ve opted to switch to mid-term.”
Among the Reform UK councillors at Wiltshire Council, however, there was jubilation.
Reform UK group leader Ed Rimmer told the LDRS: “We are delighted to welcome Danny Kruger MBE MP to the team.
“As Danny said in his speech this morning, the Conservative Party is over as a national force and it is no longer the main opposition to the left.
“Danny’s experience will be invaluable as we look to form the next government, and we are delighted that he will head up the party’s new Department for Preparing for Government.
“It is excellent news that Wiltshire now has a Reform UK MP and we look forward to working together.”
Ian Thorn, the Liberal Democrat leader of Wiltshire Council, told the LDRS: “I have to say I’m not at all surprised by this news.
“I think many Conservative voters in East Wiltshire will wonder what on earth is going on and feel desperately let down.”
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