Robert Jenrick, the former shadow justice secretary, defected to Nigel Farage's Reform UK on Thursday, branding the Conservative Party “rotten” and “failed” after being sacked by leader Kemi Badenoch. The move marks the most senior Tory defection to Reform and deepens the schism on the right of British politics.
Jenrick, who stood against Badenoch for the Tory leadership, said the party “isn't sorry, it doesn't get it, it hasn't changed, it won't change, it can't change.” He added, “I can't in good conscience stick with a party that has failed so badly.” The defection came after Badenoch removed the whip and suspended his membership, citing “irrefutable evidence” of his planned defection.
At a press conference with Farage, Jenrick criticised former colleagues, including shadow chancellor Mel Stride and shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel, accusing them of overseeing failed policies. He admitted he had resolved to leave the Tories by Thursday morning and had been in discussions with Reform since September, facilitated by former Tory adviser Tim Montgomerie.
Farage called the defection the “latest Christmas present” and said after the 7 May local elections, Reform would stop accepting Tory defectors. Jenrick will not trigger a byelection in his Newark constituency and is expected to take on a role in Reform's economic policy team, potentially causing tensions with deputy leader Richard Tice and policy head Zia Yusuf.
