Robert Jenrick, the former Conservative minister who has defected to Reform UK, has long been viewed with suspicion by political peers, including Nigel Farage. Last year, Farage called him a 'fraud' and questioned his convictions, dubbing him 'Robert the Generic' and 'Robert the I Don't Stand Particularly for Anything at all'. Now, Tory colleagues echo similar sentiments, accusing Jenrick of unbridled ambition and shifting with the political wind.
Jenrick, 44, insists his journey from a David Cameron-supporting Remainer to an anti-immigration rightwinger is genuine, driven by his time as a Home Office minister under Suella Braverman. Frustrated by the party's failure to reduce migration, he ordered children's murals at an asylum centre to be painted over and built a reputation for ruthlessness. His resignation as immigration minister in late 2023, claiming the Rwanda scheme 'does not go far enough', was a blow to then-PM Rishi Sunak.
After Sunak's 2024 election loss, Jenrick ran for Tory leader but lost to Kemi Badenoch, amid suspicions about his loyalty. Despite a mid-ranking role as shadow justice secretary, he frequently strayed beyond his brief, making viral videos on issues like tool theft and fare dodging. He was criticised for saying protesters shouting 'Allahu Akbar' should be arrested and for complaining about not seeing 'another white face' in Birmingham.
Jenrick also flirted with closer ties to Reform UK, privately claiming to be further right than Farage on many issues. Tory colleagues warned Farage about Jenrick's ambitions and past scandals, including being sacked as housing secretary after an unlawful planning decision. However, one former adviser said Farage is 'desperate' for defectors and unlikely to be deterred by Jenrick's baggage.
