Jonathan Gullis insists ‘not a cat’s chance in hell’ of defecting to Reform in resurfaced clip

Watch Jonathan Gullis insists ‘not a cat’s chance in hell’ of defecting to Reform in resurfaced clip - The Independent on Dailymotion

Transcript

00:00What's your reaction to Lee Anderson defecting to reform?

00:03Well, I'll give you an exclusive, Joe,

00:05because I've been told through certain members of the lobby

00:07that my name is one of these nine being floated around by Reform UK.

00:12Absolutely not a cat's handling chance will I be defecting.

00:15I joined the Conservative Party at 18 years old.

00:18I've been a councillor, I've been an association officer,

00:20I've been a regional chair, I've been a parliamentary candidate

00:23and now a Member of Parliament.

00:25I'm not far off 36,

00:26nearly half of my life has been dedicated to the Conservative Party cause.

00:29Sorry, I know I don't look like I'm in my 30s, I appreciate that.

00:32But for me, it takes courage of conviction and belief

00:37to sometimes stay within something, like a political party,

00:41where you have very different views within that

00:42and fight for what you believe in.

00:44I get very frustrated at times with some of my colleagues.

00:46I certainly would like to see certain things.

00:47You've heard me on your show, the New Conservatives, which I'm part of.

00:50We've shared our ideas of what we think we can do around immigration skills,

00:53but it takes real moral courage to stay in there and fight for what you believe in.

00:56Sarah did that during the Corbyn years, as did many other Labour MPs,

01:00including my predecessor, Ru Smee.

01:02So I think that it is a shame.

01:04I don't think Lee had to go.

01:06I think working class values, particularly what my grandfather taught me,

01:08and he was a working class guy,

01:10who drove lorries, served in our Marines and served overseas,

01:13keeping our nation safe.

01:15He told me, if you're clumsy, to use Lee's words,

01:17or if you get something wrong, put your hand up and say sorry.

01:19And I don't see why he couldn't have found those words

01:21on the particular specific point around Mayor Khan

01:24being allegedly controlled by Islamists, which is simply not true.

01:27And I think it's therefore a knee-jerk reaction from Lee,

01:30one I think he will come to regret.