Defections Signal Conservative Realignment

A rapid wave of MPs defecting from a mainstream conservative party to an insurgent right‑wing formation is an early indicator of party realignment rather than mere personality disputes. Such defections compress timelines for electoral coalition shifts, force reallocation of resources (candidate selection, local campaigning) and can catalyse institutional change within months, not years. — If defections spread, they reshape who governs, which policies are viable, and the structure of parliamentary majorities — a direct driver of national politics and election outcomes.