In the battle for the right, all eyes are on who moves where. A handful of Tory MPs made the jump to Reform, prior the 7 May deadline imposed by Nigel Farage. Now it is the turn of backroom talent, as both parties bid to prove which of them had the more credible offer. Under James Orr, Reform’s Head of Policy, the party has made a series of statement signings including James Graham of the Prosperity Institute and Sam Ashworth-Hayes from the Telegraph.
But now Steerpike hears tell of another marquee hire. Karl Williams, the Research Director of the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS), will be joining Orr’s team shortly. Williams is best known in ‘wonk world’ for his work on the so-called ‘Boriswave’ of mass migration that has occurred since 2020. A staunch fan of Norman Tebbit, Williams co-authored the 2024 paper with Robert Jenrick and Neil O’Brien that signalled a sea change in attitudes on the right. Let’s see how he fares in Milbank Tower eh…
Reform’s latest hire comes at a time when they are under pressure from Restore, amid supposed criticisms that Nigel Farage’s party has ‘gone soft’. With hires like Williams, it’s proof that Reform clearly hasn’t lost their pulling power with many of those young, bright and on the right…
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