The Conservative Party has moved to project an image of unity and resolve following the high-profile defection of former shadow cabinet minister Robert Jenrick to Nigel Farage's Reform UK.
A Decisive Sacking and a Public Sick of 'Backstabbing'
Nick Timothy, who succeeded Jenrick as shadow justice secretary after he was pre-emptively sacked by Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch, said the public had grown weary of political infighting. Badenoch removed Jenrick from the Tory frontbench and suspended his party membership on Thursday 15 January 2026, after receiving what she called "irrefutable evidence" he was secretly plotting to join Reform.
Speaking during his first media round in the new role on Friday 16 January, the West Suffolk MP told BBC Breakfast: "Rob's been a friend of mine for some time. It's obviously disappointing that he's decided to move on." He added, "The public are sick of the backbiting and the backstabbing and the lack of seriousness in our political parties when the challenges that the country faces are so serious."
Jenrick's Accusations and Tory 'Resolve'
The defection was confirmed in a chaotic press conference on Thursday, where a lengthy delay preceded Jenrick taking the stage alongside Nigel Farage. The MP for Newark accused his former party of being "rotten", claiming it had "failed in government" and was not sorry for its record. He said a recent shadow cabinet discussion about whether Britain is "broken" convinced him the party was "in denial – or being dishonest".
In response, Timothy claimed the reaction among Conservative MPs was one of surprise but also "resolve". He strongly defended the party's current leadership, stating, "the party, I think, is more united under Kemi's leadership than I've known it for many years." He also apologised for aspects of the Tory record during its final years in power, saying the party must acknowledge why it lost the last election.
Fallout and Future Defections
The move makes Jenrick the latest senior Tory to join Reform, following former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi and sitting MP Danny Kruger. The defection has prompted Reform to set a deadline for further Tory arrivals. Reform's head of policy, Zia Yusuf, said 7 May 2026—the date of local elections—would be a "deadline" after which there would be "no more Tories". Nigel Farage echoed this, warning the Tories would "cease to be a national political party" after that date.
Meanwhile, Jenrick faces local dismay in Newark. The chairman of his local Conservative association, Councillor Keith Girling, expressed "massive disappointment" and said he would welcome a by-election, but conceded Jenrick was "not going to risk it".
As Kemi Badenoch prepares to face further questions on the defection during a visit to Aberdeen, she has already dismissed Jenrick's departure, telling the Press Association: "Robert Jenrick is not my problem, he's your problem."
