Kemi Badenoch has been praised for sacking Robert Jenrick before he could announce his defection to Reform UK, in a move that has sparked debate about political power plays. The Conservative leader acted after receiving screenshots of Jenrick's resignation speech and media plan from a mole in his office, just 24 hours after a one-to-one conversation with him.
Jenrick's speech, which was double-spaced for easy reading, urged fellow Tories to defect with him, claiming the party had 'lost its way' and singling out senior figures such as Priti Patel and Mel Stride for criticism. He also stated that Nigel Farage was the 'right person' to lead the country.
Badenoch's senior aides advised her to sack Jenrick immediately after learning that Farage was due to appear on the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg show, fearing he would drop heavy hints before announcing the defection the next morning. The Tory leader left it to her chief whip, Rebecca Harris, to phone Jenrick, who angrily denied the plans.
Badenoch released a video message laying out the charges just after 11am, timed to coincide with Farage's press conference in Scotland. The video was also emailed to all Conservative party members with a message promising they 'deserve better' than MPs who defect.
Farage, at his press conference, seemed caught off guard, saying of Badenoch: 'It sounds to me like she's panicked.' He insisted there was no deal done with Jenrick yet, adding: 'I'll give him a ring this afternoon. I might even buy him a pint.'
Condemnation of Jenrick from across the Conservative party was swift and brutal, with one MP calling him a 'coward' and another a 'traitor'. A former cabinet minister said: 'Jenrick was a snake in the grass in the Rishi years, you cannot trust him.'
