Few MPs have undergone a political transformation as sharp as Danny Kruger. From a Conservative backbencher and former speechwriter for David Cameron to a high-profile defector to Reform UK in 2025, his career has been anything but predictable.
Born: 23 October 1974 · Party: Reform UK (formerly Conservative) · Constituency: East Wiltshire · Member of Parliament since: 12 December 2019
Quick snapshot
- Religious affiliation – not publicly confirmed (BBC News)
- Net worth – no reliable estimate available (Politics.co.uk)
- Mother’s identity – rumored to be Prue Leith, but not officially stated in all sources (BBC News)
- 1974: Born in Westminster (GB News)
- 2019: Elected MP for Devizes (Politics.co.uk)
- 2025: Defects to Reform UK (BBC News)
- Expected to stand as Reform UK candidate at next general election (The Guardian)
- Constituency reaction and potential by-election speculation remain open (BBC News)
Six key facts, one pattern: Kruger’s biography is unusually well-documented for a relatively new MP, yet several personal details stay private.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Daniel Rayne Kruger |
| Date of Birth | 23 October 1974 |
| Age | 50 (as of 2025) |
| Political Party | Reform UK (formerly Conservative) |
| Constituency | East Wiltshire |
| MP since | 12 December 2019 |
What is Danny Kruger’s background?
Early life and education
- Born in Westminster on 23 October 1974 to South African parents (GB News).
- Educated at Eton College, then Edinburgh University and Oxford University (Politics.co.uk (UK political reference site)).
Career before politics
- One-time speechwriter for David Cameron (Politics.co.uk).
- Later served as political secretary to Boris Johnson during the first four months of Johnson’s premiership (Politics.co.uk).
Family and parents
- Father is Rayne Kruger, a South African-born property developer and author (Wikipedia).
- Mother is Prue Leith, the television chef and restaurateur (BBC News (UK broadcaster)).
- Kruger is married to Emma Kruger, according to Wikipedia (Wikipedia).
The implication: Kruger’s elite education and early political roles place him firmly in the Westminster establishment—making his defection to an insurgent party all the more striking.
What religion is Danny Kruger?
Public statements on faith
No official confirmation of Danny Kruger’s religious affiliation has been found in public records. The question remains unanswered in available sources such as BBC News and Politics.co.uk.
Speculation and interest
Online forums occasionally raise the question, but no credible evidence points to any specific faith. The absence of public statements suggests Kruger keeps his personal beliefs private.
For a public figure whose personal life is partly known (mother Prue Leith, wife Emma), the silence on religion stands out as a deliberate gap—one that no available source fills.
The pattern: On the question of faith, the available evidence is effectively zero. This is a clear case of a personal detail that remains outside the public domain.
What happened to Danny Kruger?
Defection to Reform UK
In September 2025, Kruger defected from the Conservative Party to Reform UK, becoming the first incumbent Conservative MP to join the party (BBC News). He was serving as shadow work and pensions minister at the time (BBC News). Kruger sent a letter to constituents explaining his decision and did not apologise for it (BBC News).
Impact on his political career
Kruger described the Conservative Party as “over” and no longer a national party, adding that Nigel Farage is the “new guardian” of conservatism (The Guardian). The defection was revealed during a Reform press briefing (Reuters via Yahoo News).
Kruger’s move signals that Reform UK is now a credible landing point for disaffected Conservative MPs—a shift that could reshape the right of British politics.
The trade-off: Kruger gains a platform in a rising party but loses the institutional support of the Conservatives, and faces an uncertain relationship with his former constituents.
Did Danny Kruger support Brexit?
Voting record as Conservative MP
As a Conservative MP during the Brexit referendum and subsequent process, Kruger’s voting record aligned with the party’s support for Brexit (Politics.co.uk). He cited failures on mass migration and Brexit as reasons for leaving the Conservatives (BBC News).
Stance as Reform UK MP
He is now a member of Reform UK, a party that strongly supports Brexit. His defection speech emphasised that the Conservatives had abandoned the Brexit mandate (The Guardian).
The implication: Kruger’s Brexit stance is consistent—he has always been a Brexit supporter, but his critique of the Conservatives’ execution of Brexit became the public rationale for leaving.
Who is Danny Kruger’s wife?
Marriage details
Danny Kruger is married, but the name and details of his spouse are not publicly available in the provided sources. Wikipedia lists his wife as Emma Kruger (Wikipedia).
Spouse’s background
No further information about Emma Kruger’s background, profession, or public role appears in the research notes. The couple reportedly have three children according to IMDb (IMDb), but this source is low confidence.
The catch: The spouse’s identity is partially known but not independently verified by high-tier sources—a reminder that personal life details for MPs can remain opaque.
Timeline
- — Born Daniel Rayne Kruger in Westminster (Wikipedia)
- — Elected as MP for Devizes (later East Wiltshire) (BBC News)
- — Defected from Conservative Party to Reform UK (BBC News)
Clarity check
Confirmed facts
- Danny Kruger is the Reform UK MP for East Wiltshire (BBC News)
- He was previously a Conservative MP (Politics.co.uk)
- He was born on 23 October 1974 (Wikipedia)
- He was elected in 2019 (BBC News)
- He defected to Reform UK in 2025 (BBC News)
Unclear
- His religious affiliation (BBC News)
- His net worth (Politics.co.uk)
- The identity of his wife (only Wikipedia lists her as Emma) (Wikipedia)
- His mother is Prue Leith (confirmed by BBC, but earlier sources were inconsistent) (BBC News)
“The Conservative Party is over. It’s no longer a national party.”
— Danny Kruger, quoted in The Guardian
“Nigel Farage is the new guardian of conservatism.”
— Danny Kruger, quoted in The Guardian
For the Conservative Party, Kruger’s defection is a concrete loss of a sitting MP to a rival right-wing party. For Reform UK, it is a validation of their growing appeal. For voters in East Wiltshire, the choice is clear: a representative who has twice changed party allegiance, or an alternative candidate at the next general election.
Frequently asked questions
What is Danny Kruger’s full name?
Daniel Rayne Kruger. (Wikipedia)
How old is Danny Kruger?
Born 23 October 1974, he is 50 as of 2025. (Wikipedia)
When did Danny Kruger become an MP?
He was first elected on 12 December 2019. (BBC News)
What is Danny Kruger’s constituency?
East Wiltshire (previously Devizes until boundary changes in 2024). (BBC News)
What was Danny Kruger’s role in the Conservative Party?
He served as shadow work and pensions minister and previously as political secretary to Boris Johnson. (Politics.co.uk)
How can I contact Danny Kruger?
Visit his official Parliament page at parliament.uk.
George Harry Howard Bennett is a staff writer for Public Journal UK, specializing in UK news, policy analysis, and public affairs coverage. He works under Editor-in-Chief Margaret Ellison, maintaining high standards of sourcing, verification, and fact-checking. Bennett reports on Westminster, government policy, and societal issues, providing balanced and accurate journalism with timely insight.