An ex-high-ranking member of the Conservative Party who previously criticized the caliber of Reform UK candidates has switched allegiance to Reform.

Jonathan Gullis has recently joined Nigel Farage’s party, despite a public disagreement with Richard Tice, the second-in-command, during which Tice was accused of indirectly threatening Gullis.

Gullis had previously ridiculed Reform, claiming that it wasn’t just a few bad apples. In response, Tice, who was the leader at the time, responded on Twitter with a message directed at Gullis, hinting at possessing embarrassing personal information about him.

The dispute arose last year when it was revealed that Reform’s candidates included a person convicted of animal cruelty and a fortune-teller who sold spells on OnlyFans.

In the Mail on Sunday, Gullis expressed doubts about the vetting process for Reform candidates, questioning how individuals with such backgrounds could adequately represent their constituents.

However, Gullis has since had a change of heart and announced his decision to join Reform UK. In a statement to the Stoke Sentinel, he mentioned his dissatisfaction with the Conservative Party after 18 years, citing issues such as immigration control, the net zero agenda leading to increased energy costs, and the jeopardy faced by jobs in Stoke-on-Trent’s renowned ceramics industry.

Gullis emphasized that the Conservative Party had lost the trust of the British people due to these reasons.