Robert Jenrick, the former shadow justice secretary, defected to Reform UK on Thursday, branding the Conservatives a “failed” and “rotten” party after being sacked by leader Kemi Badenoch for allegedly plotting against her. The defection, announced alongside Reform leader Nigel Farage in Westminster, marks the most senior Tory switch to the insurgent party and deepens the divide on the British right.
Jenrick, who lost the Tory leadership contest to Badenoch, said the Conservative 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 that he could not “in good conscience stick with a party that has failed so badly”. The former immigration minister singled out shadow chancellor Mel Stride and shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel for criticism over welfare and migration policies.
Badenoch removed the Conservative whip and suspended Jenrick’s party membership earlier on Thursday, claiming “irrefutable evidence” of his planned defection. She appointed Nick Timothy as shadow justice secretary. Jenrick admitted he had resolved to leave the party before the sacking, and that discussions with Reform had begun in September, facilitated by former Tory adviser Tim Montgomerie.
Farage called the sacking the “latest Christmas present I’ve ever had” and said Reform would reject further Tory defections after the 7 May local elections. Jenrick confirmed he will not trigger a byelection in his Newark constituency. He is expected to take on a role within Reform, though any economic portfolio could cause tensions with deputy leader Richard Tice and policy head Zia Yusuf.
