Robert Jenrick has hit back at Kemi Badenoch after his defection to Reform UK, accusing the Conservative Party of being run by ‘arsonists’ who wrecked its reputation. In his first interview since the move, the former shadow justice secretary told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg that the party had not changed since the election, with those responsible for past mistakes still in control.
Jenrick insisted he had been frank about his intentions, despite telling the Conservative chief whip on Thursday he would never defect. Badenoch responded by saying he ‘tells a lot of lies’, adding that Reform leader Nigel Farage was ‘doing my spring cleaning for me’ by taking away her problems.
The public row comes as both parties digest the significance of Jenrick’s defection, the most high-profile yet for Reform. While some Conservatives say it strengthens Badenoch’s position, others, like Michael Gove, warned Reform risked looking like ‘Slytherin house’ after also gaining Nadhim Zahawi earlier this week.
Jenrick urged other rightwingers to join Reform, writing in the Telegraph: ‘The future of the country is on the line.’ However, he told Kuenssberg he was not aware of any other imminent high-profile defections. Labour dismissed Farage’s suggestion of an incoming Labour defector, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves saying his comments should be taken ‘with a pinch of salt’.
