Robert Jenrick defects to Reform after shock sacking and declares Farage is leader Britain needs
Robert Jenrick took shelter UK Reformation after it happened Dramatic expulsion from Conservative frontbench and was expelled from the Conservative Party.
The former shadow justice secretary, who launched an extraordinary attack on his former colleagues at a Westminster press conference, said the party had “betrayed its voters and members” and was “in denial or dishonest” about its record.
He said he joined Reform UK because the Conservatives under Kemi Badenoch had failed to change after the 2024 election wipeout, arguing the country now needs Nigel Farage.
“I can’t deceive myself any longer,” he said, adding: “I can’t, in good conscience, remain loyal to a party that has failed so much, that hasn’t been sorry and hasn’t changed, that I know in my heart of hearts it won’t – can’t – deliver what’s needed.”
On a dramatic day in politics:
- While endorsing his switch to Reform, Mr Jenrick complained about rising immigration, court overruns, prisons being “full” and the small size of the army.
- He claimed Britain would be “beyond the point of repair” if we don’t get the next government right
- Mr Farage accused Ms Badenoch of “jumping the gun” by sacking Mr Jenrick, but thanked her for handing him over to Reform “on a plate”
- Sir Keir Starmer said there was “an influx of former Tories who have gone to Reform because they know the Conservative party is a sinking ship.”
Mr Jenrick was welcomed by the Reform leader, who told a press conference in London that the former shadow justice secretary’s departure was a “huge moment”.
The shock move to join the party came just hours after Ms Badenoch announced on social media that she had kicked Mr Jenrick out of the shadow cabinet, removed the whip and suspended his party membership after claiming she had seen “irrefutable evidence that he was secretly planning to defect to as much damage as possible” to the Conservatives.
Mr Farage thanked the Tory leader for including Mr Jenrick in the decision and claimed Reform UK would face another split, this time from Labor, next week.
Addressing Ms Badenoch, the reform leader said: “You have handed me on a platter the man who is by far the most popular figure with a 60 per cent approval rating on ConHome… You have perhaps done more today than anyone in history to actually help realign the centre-right of British politics.”
Mr Farage accused Ms Badenoch of “jumping the gun” by firing Mr Jenrick, claiming: “She wouldn’t attend today. She wouldn’t attend tomorrow. She wouldn’t attend next week… I think it was 60:40 all things considered.” [joined at all] “But you never know until the deal is signed and the hands are shaken.”
His remarks came just minutes after the Conservative Party scrambled to publish “summaries” of a speech they said was evidence of its plan to leave Reform UK.
According to the quotes, Mr Jenrick was planning to accuse the Conservative Party and Labor of “losing the right to govern”, arguing that “the mandate is now on Reform”.
He continues: “I’m proud to be the 281,000th member of Reformation. To support Nigel. And to join this movement. In my heart of hearts I know it’s right for our country. If, like me, you’ve backed another party but you know it’s lost its way, don’t stay. Don’t stay in a party that’s not loyal to you. When your country needs you.”
A Conservative Party spokesman said: “We have no doubt that Jenrick was involved in the preparation of these remarks and intended to backstab his Conservative colleagues.”
Announcing her dismissal on Thursday morning, Ms Badenoch said: “I have been presented with clear and irrefutable evidence that he secretly conspired to escape in a manner designed to cause as much damage as possible to his shadow cabinet colleagues and the wider Conservative Party.
“The British people are tired of political psychodrama, and so am I. They saw too much of it in the last government, and they see too much of it in this government. I will not repeat those mistakes.”
Ms Badenoch later appointed Nick Timothy as shadow justice secretary to replace Mr Jenrick.
It brings an end to the pair’s long-running leadership rivalry, amid growing speculation that Mr Jenrick is planning to unseat Ms Badenoch as Conservative Party leader.
Independent The pair are understood to have agreed on the issue in a conversation before Christmas, when sources close to Ms Badenoch said Mr Jenrick had denied attending Mr Farage’s party.
But his supporters claim the real reason for his sacking is that he is planning a leadership challenge after the May election, which is expected to be disastrous for the Conservatives.
Independent He had approached Ms Badenoch’s office this week after seeing evidence of his leadership bid and Mr Jenrick’s allies were drafting the letters of no confidence needed to trigger a Conservative Party leadership contest.
An ally of Mr Jenrick said: “This is just a move to oust Robert. There was no reason for him to run. Many of us saw him as the next leader. This could backfire on him badly.”
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Former Conservative cabinet minister Dominic Grieve denied Mr Jenrick’s departure would weaken the Conservative Party, instead saying his sacking could be a “critical first step towards recovery”.
“This does not weaken the Conservative Party in any way, it is weak as it is now. It saves it from the nightmare that is destroying it,” he insisted. “This is potentially the first critical step towards recovery.”
Shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith wrote of X: “I came into politics from business. I know there is no ‘I’ in the team. In the face of the epic damage done by the socialists in Downing Street, we have no shortage of reasons for this.” [the] Conservatives will unite. Leadership involves setting the line.
Another former cabinet minister joked: “I think the chances of a Conservative administration are getting better by the day.”
Mr Jenrick’s departure comes just days after former Tory minister Nadhim Zahawi defected to Reform, the latest in a series of high-profile Tory figures to jump ship, including Dame Andrea Jenkyns, Jonathan Gullis and Nadine Dorries.
