Reform UK by-election candidate Matt Goodwin has launched a series of pointed attacks against his new colleague Robert Jenrick, including mocking the former Conservative minister's use of weight loss medication and issuing a stark warning that the party risks transforming into what he termed a 'Tory tribute act'. Goodwin, who is standing for Reform in the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election, made these remarks in a revealing display of internal party tensions.
Personal Jibes at Jenrick
In a particularly personal critique, Goodwin targeted Jenrick's well-documented use of the weight loss drug Ozempic. The candidate quipped, "You can take an injection for weight loss but you can't take an injection for personality." This comment, made last May, underscored Goodwin's broader criticism of Jenrick's political demeanor.
Goodwin elaborated further, stating, "I think there are two things with Jenrick, one is there is no charisma, the second is he's not as strong as he thinks he is." These remarks highlight the simmering discord within Reform UK as it integrates high-profile defectors from the Conservative Party.
Warning Against Becoming a 'Tory Tribute Act'
Beyond personal attacks, Goodwin has voiced significant strategic concerns about Reform UK's direction. Writing for ConservativeWoman in September, he cautioned that accepting too many former Tory MPs could fundamentally alter the party's identity.
Goodwin warned, "If the party takes too many ex-Tories it risks quickly looking like a Tory tribute act, inviting the same people who very nearly destroyed our country to have another go at destroying it all over again." He argued that this influx erodes Reform's appeal in traditional Labour strongholds like the Red Wall, Wales, northern England, and Scotland, while diluting its anti-establishment credentials.
Since Goodwin's warning, Reform has welcomed eleven additional ex-Tory MPs into its ranks, including prominent figures like Jenrick and former Home Secretary Suella Braverman. This rapid expansion has only intensified internal debates about the party's future trajectory.
Broader Criticisms and Political Reactions
Goodwin's criticisms extend beyond Jenrick. In November, he branded the Conservatives and Jenrick collectively as a "total joke", using a vivid analogy: "If you invited an architect into your house and that architect destroyed your house, you would not invite that architect back."
Labour MP Andrew Western seized on these internal conflicts, remarking, "Matthew Goodwin claimed to be fed up with Farage stuffing his party full of failed Tories, but then decided to join them. You couldn’t make it up." Western further accused Goodwin of aligning with divisive politics, noting his backing from controversial figure Tommy Robinson and warning that only a vote for Labour's Angeliki Stogia could prevent community division in Manchester.
Reform's Response
A Reform spokesman addressed the controversy, stating, "Matt made these comments when Robert Jenrick was a Conservative MP as part of the rough and tumble of British politics." The spokesman emphasized that Goodwin's candidacy, despite his never having been a Tory, demonstrates Reform's broad appeal across political spectrums.
The spokesman added, "The fact that Matt who has never been a Tory and is now our candidate in the Gorton & Denton by-election speaks volumes about how Reform is attracting support from across all parties and none." This response aims to frame the internal criticisms as past disagreements now superseded by unified political goals.
As the Gorton and Denton by-election approaches, these revelations underscore the significant challenges Reform UK faces in balancing its anti-establishment roots with the integration of established political figures from the Conservative Party. The party's ability to manage these internal dynamics will be crucial in determining its electoral success and long-term political identity.
