Robert Jenrick, the former shadow justice secretary, defected to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK on Thursday, branding the Conservative Party “rotten” and “failed” after being sacked by leader Kemi Badenoch. The dramatic move marks the most senior Tory switch to Reform, deepening the schism on the British right.
Badenoch removed the whip and suspended Jenrick’s party membership, citing “irrefutable evidence” of his planned defection. She swiftly appointed Nick Timothy, MP for West Suffolk, as shadow justice secretary. Jenrick admitted he had resolved to leave the Tories by Thursday morning, though he said the sacking accelerated his exit.
Speaking alongside Farage, Jenrick launched a blistering attack on his former party: “The Conservative Party in Westminster isn’t sorry, it doesn’t get it, it hasn’t changed, it won’t change, it can’t change.” He singled out shadow chancellor Mel Stride and shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel for criticism, accusing them of overseeing welfare bill growth and legal migration surges during their ministerial tenures.
Farage described Jenrick’s defection as “the latest Christmas present I’ve ever had” and said after the 7 May local elections, Reform would reject further Tory joiners. Jenrick will not trigger a byelection in his Newark constituency. He confirmed discussions with Reform began in September, facilitated by former Tory adviser Tim Montgomerie.
The defection underscores Badenoch’s struggle to unite the Conservatives amid ongoing losses to Reform. A senior Reform source called Jenrick “the No 1 Tory we have all wanted to come over”. Farage indicated Jenrick would take on responsibilities within the party, though any economic role could create tensions with deputy leader Richard Tice and policy head Zia Yusuf.
