Reform’s new ‘sheriff’ Robert Jenrick shot down by senior party figures as they fail to back defector’s ambitions for a top role

Robert Jenrick’s commitment to Reform was unraveling last night as senior figures in his new party refused to back his ambitions for a senior role.

The Conservative MP’s move, billed by his aides as ‘the biggest defection story the Reformation has ever experienced (and is likely to be)’, has received a welcome reception from those already in Nigel Farage’s party.

In a leaked memo his team had declared him the ‘new sheriff in town’, but yesterday Mr Jenrick failed to be endorsed for the job he wanted by one of the potential rivals for the post and others refused to welcome his arrival.

Conservatives mocked their former Shadow Chancellor, claiming ‘the new sheriff is not welcome in Reform town’.

Asked by the BBC whether he would be happy to have Mr Jenrick as Reform’s Shadow Chancellor, Richard Tice, the party’s deputy leader, said: ‘Look, Nigel boss… The great thing is we have a lot of talent across all the main offices of government.’

When challenged again he simply said: ‘We have a very wide range of talent, the boss will make his decision on the different roles at the appropriate time.’

Mr Tice, who has long been tipped to take on a critical economic role, was also asked about Mr Jenrick’s claim that he should ‘consider’ Reformation’s policy of removing the two-child benefit cap for British families.

The Conservative MP’s move, billed by his aides as ‘the biggest defection story the Reformation has ever experienced (and is likely to be)’, has received a welcome reception from those already in Nigel Farage’s party.

Tory mocks former Shadow Chancellor, claiming ‘new sheriff not welcome in Reform town’

‘The really responsible thing is to say that we need people to work and that our child benefit policy is aimed at working families, British families,’ he replied.

Reform’s policy chief Zia Yusuf, who is also thought to want the role of Shadow Chancellor, was asked whether he was involved in negotiations to bring Mr Jenrick across.

He replied: ‘My assessment is that this is a thoughtful man, a man who is clear-eyed about all the different ways in which the Tories have betrayed this country, and who wants to help Nigel and Richard and everyone at Reformation, to help me repair that damage.

‘I also think it’s very clear that his coming to Reform increases our chances of winning the next general election, and I think that’s a really important milestone for us to do that, to turn the country around.’

The Reform London mayoral candidate, who announced himself as the ‘new sheriff in town’ just a week before Mr Jenrick’s team used the phrase about him in their secret exit plan, was also lukewarm about his arrival.

Asked why Mr Farage wasn’t worried about his new member’s record in government, Laila Cunningham told GB News: ‘I think what Nigel Farage sees, and we trust Nigel Farage’s judgment, is that Jenrick’s departure from the Conservatives are really signals that they’re done.

‘This isn’t about whether I’m happy or not. It’s about what it represents.’

He also admitted that he wasn’t immediately convinced by her move, saying: ‘When he ran away for the first time, I said ‘let’s see what he says in his speech’.’

Reform’s London mayoral candidate Laila Cunningham (pictured) – who had declared herself the ‘new sheriff in town’ just a week before Mr Jenrick’s team used the phrase about her in their secret exit plan – was also lukewarm about her arrival.

But he added: ‘What he said was exactly what we all felt.’

Asked why Mr Yusuf did not welcome Mr Jenrick to Reform, he said ‘we all went to dinner’ on the day of the departure and the pair ‘got on very well’.

Mr Jenrick was ridiculed for giving an ‘Alan Partridge-style mirror speech’ to ingratiate himself with supporters of his new party after a secret quit note was handed to Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.

The Mail on Sunday revealed that the special ‘media plan’ had encouraged Mr Jenrick to ‘use one of your best skills – humour’, describing him as ‘the most popular Tory Shadow Cabinet member, back-up leader if Kemi falls and the most dynamic politician in the Conservative Party’.

Notes seized by a mole in Mr Jenrick’s office include the following lines about Mr Farage: ‘The only person in British politics [to have] It was consistent.”

The six-page memo also suggested his answers to questions about jumping ship to save his career should have read: ‘Last I checked I was top of the Conservative House Shadow Cabinet’s magnificent league table, so everything seemed to be going well!’

Mr Jenrick is advised to ‘listen to questions where you can be funny and not be afraid to be self-effacing or laugh, sometimes even policy-based questions’.

A leaked memo even sets up a potential question about whether Mr Farage is ‘only good for a pint’

It is also recommended to ‘be demonstrative (especially with hands), slow down, use vocal range and emphasize words’.

The excruciating operational memo added: ‘Passion and showing that you care are crucial – but not to be confused with shouting or talking like an AI politician – speak up’.

He also adds that he should ‘reject stupid questions and respond mostly with humor or rhetorical questions in response’.

The note even sets up a possible question about whether Mr Farage is ‘only good for a pint’.

He suggests a joke like this: ‘Well, Nigel’s still good for a pint!’

Reformation’s Lincolnshire mayor, Dame Andrea Jenkyns, wrote on social media yesterday that the party supported the new deadline of May 7 for more asylum seekers.

He said he ‘fully agreed’ with the move to ‘pull the drawbridge to the Conservatives’.

‘We don’t need their arrogance saying they came to the ship for ‘help’. Nigel, Zia and the team are doing very well.’

Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake told the Daily Mail: ‘Apparently the new sheriff isn’t welcome in the town of Reform – or perhaps Reform town isn’t big enough for all the chancellor wannabes.

‘Zia Yusuf doesn’t even dare to invite Jenrick to the party and Richard Tice doesn’t even support Robert Jenrick as a credible chancellor and they are already discussing how much more they should spend on welfare.’

He added: ‘Voters want a serious team with a clear plan and leadership with backbone, not a hall full of egos.’