Robert Jenrick defected to Reform UK on Thursday, branding the Conservative Party “rotten” and “failed” after being sacked by leader Kemi Badenoch for allegedly plotting against her. The former shadow justice secretary appeared alongside Nigel Farage at a hastily arranged press conference in Westminster, delivering a blistering attack on his former colleagues.
Jenrick, who stood against Badenoch in the Tory leadership contest, said the party “isn’t sorry, it doesn’t get it, it hasn’t changed, it won’t change, it can’t change”. He accused both Labour and the Conservatives of breaking Britain, adding: “I can’t in good conscience stick with a party that has failed so badly.”
Badenoch removed the Conservative whip and suspended Jenrick’s party membership after finding what she called “irrefutable evidence” of his planned defection. She appointed West Suffolk MP Nick Timothy as shadow justice secretary. Jenrick admitted he had resolved to defect by the morning of his sacking and that discussions with Reform had begun in September, facilitated by former Tory adviser Tim Montgomerie.
Jenrick singled out shadow chancellor Mel Stride and shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel for criticism, blaming Stride for the welfare bill explosion and Patel for a surge in legal migration. Farage called the sacking the “latest Christmas present I’ve ever had” and said Reform would now allocate roles to key figures, with Jenrick expected to take on economic policy.
The defection deepens the right-wing schism as Badenoch struggles to hold the Conservatives together amid a string of high-profile moves to Reform. Jenrick confirmed he would not call a byelection in his Newark constituency, and Farage predicted no further Tory defections after the 7 May local elections.
