In a seismic shift for British politics, former Conservative minister Robert Jenrick has been suspended from the Tory party and immediately defected to Reform UK, joining Nigel Farage at a press conference on Thursday, 15 January 2026.
From Centrist 'Generic' to Conservative Firebrand
The move marks the culmination of a dramatic political reinvention for the MP, once mockingly labelled the centrist "Robert Generic". His journey from a moderating force within Rishi Sunak's government to a hardline populist has been rapid and controversial.
Less than four years ago, in 2022, Sunak appointed Jenrick as immigration minister, a move widely interpreted as an attempt to temper the instincts of the then-home secretary, Suella Braverman. However, allies claim his time at the Home Office "radicalised" him, pushing him towards advocating for a heavy reduction in immigration and a stance against the European Convention on Human Rights.
Adopting an aggressive, social media-savvy style, Jenrick transformed into a Conservative firebrand. Using viral videos, he championed messages on crime, immigration, and criticising "activist judges". This approach, however, frequently courted controversy, including a rebuke for filming fare-dodgers on the London Underground without permission and accusations of racism after a leaked recording from the 2025 Tory conference.
A Career Marred by Controversy and Ambition
Jenrick's political career has been punctuated by scandals. As communities secretary under Boris Johnson, he was embroiled in a planning row after unlawfully approving a £1 billion development for Tory donor Richard Desmond, a decision that saved the billionaire over £40 million. He faced further allegations over constituency grants and breaching Covid rules.
Despite being sacked in a 2021 reshuffle, he fought his way back, eventually becoming immigration minister. He soon echoed Braverman's hardline rhetoric, warning that "uncontrolled" migration threatened to "cannibalise" public compassion. His decisive break came in December 2023 when he resigned, dealing a blow to Sunak's premiership.
After coming second to Kemi Badenoch in the November 2024 Tory leadership contest, he was appointed shadow justice secretary. Yet, he remained a persistent source of tension for Badenoch, with constant speculation that he was plotting to depose her or defect to Reform.
The Final Break: 'The Party Hasn't Changed and It Won't'
The end came swiftly on Thursday. Accused of preparing to defect, Jenrick was sacked as shadow justice secretary and suspended from the Conservative Party. At the subsequent press conference with Nigel Farage, he insisted he was "resolved to leave" before being ousted.
In a damning indictment of his former party, Jenrick stated, "The party hasn't changed and it won't. The bulk of the party don't get it. Don't have the stomach for the radical change this country needs." He claimed that as a minister, he had been "let down" by both Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak.
When questioned on whether he could be trusted, Jenrick asserted he had "put aside his own personal ambition" to join Reform. Critics, however, remain sceptical, viewing his journey as that of an ambitious politician adapting his message to ascend the greasy pole. His defection caps a remarkable fall from the heart of government to the frontline of the insurgent right, reshaping the political battlefield ahead of the next general election.
