Who Is Danny Kruger? Prue Leith’s Son, His Reform UK Defection and Political Career

Danny Kruger is a British politician and the son of Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith — a connection that regularly puts him in entertainment headlines despite his career being entirely political. In September 2025, he made national news by defecting from the Conservative Party to Reform UK. Here’s who he is, what he believes, and how his public relationship with his mother has played out.

Quick Facts

Who Is Danny Kruger?

Kruger is the son of Prue Leith and her first husband, writer and property developer Rayne Kruger, who died in 2002. He was educated at Eton before studying history at Edinburgh and Oxford. Before entering elected politics, he worked at the Centre for Policy Studies think tank and became a policy adviser, later serving as David Cameron’s chief speechwriter from 2006 while Cameron was Leader of the Opposition.

He has been the MP for the Wiltshire seat since 2019, representing Devizes until boundary changes created the East Wiltshire constituency.

Reform UK Defection

In September 2025, Kruger left the Conservative Party to join Reform UK, becoming one of the highest-profile Tory defections of the year. The move followed years of Kruger positioning himself on the socially conservative wing of British politics.

Political Views

Kruger has built a reputation as one of Westminster’s most outspoken social conservatives. He is an evangelical Christian and has campaigned against the legalisation of assisted dying, arguing for improved palliative care instead. He has also spoken publicly about the role of marriage in society and drawn criticism for comments on bodily autonomy following the 2022 US abortion ruling.

Relationship With Prue Leith

Kruger and his mother have been open about how differently they see the world — she is an atheist and a long-time supporter of assisted dying legislation; he is a practising Christian and opposes it. Their differences became the subject of the Channel 4 documentary Prue and Danny’s Death Road Trip, in which the pair travelled together to countries where assisted dying is legal to hear both sides of the debate.

In a 2023 Times interview, Leith addressed the online abuse she gets over her son’s politics directly, saying she’s asked “how could you raise such a monster?” — while stressing she still loves and admires him despite disagreeing with his views. She’s also said filming the documentary together was a rare chance to spend uninterrupted time with him, since the pair don’t often see each other otherwise.

Leith has also spoken about her approach to parenting Danny and his sister Li-Da, admitting in a separate interview that she prioritised her career over always being present and sent both children to boarding school at 12 — something she’s said she wouldn’t consider acceptable by today’s standards.

FAQ

Is Danny Kruger related to Prue Leith?

Yes. He is her son from her first marriage, to writer Rayne Kruger.

What party is Danny Kruger in?

He defected from the Conservative Party to Reform UK in September 2025.

What constituency does Danny Kruger represent?

East Wiltshire, having previously represented Devizes since 2019.

Does Danny Kruger have siblings?

Yes, a sister, Li-Da Kruger, who is a filmmaker.

Why did Prue Leith and Danny Kruger make a documentary together?

Prue and Danny’s Death Road Trip explored their opposing views on assisted dying — she supports legalisation, he opposes it on religious and ethical grounds.

Sources: Danny Kruger, Wikipedia; interviews via The Independent (AOL) and Yahoo.