Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has dramatically sacked Robert Jenrick from the shadow cabinet and suspended him from the party, alleging she possessed "irrefutable evidence" he was secretly planning a damaging defection.
The Sudden Dismissal and Alleged Plot
Badenoch announced the explosive move on Thursday, stating she was presented with clear proof that the shadow justice secretary was "plotting in secret to defect in a way designed to be as damaging as possible" to his colleagues and the wider Tory party. While she did not name the intended destination, senior sources confirmed it was Nigel Farage's Reform UK.
The decision marks a stunning fall for Jenrick, a former immigration minister and Badenoch's own rival in the recent Tory leadership contest. Westminster insiders revealed that suspicions about Jenrick's activities had been growing for some time, with concerns he was working to undermine the party. These fears reportedly crystallised due to the indiscreet actions of some of his unofficial aides, known internally as the "grid of shit" plotters from the Rishi Sunak era.
Farage's Denial and Tory Infighting Fears
Nigel Farage, who is due to hold a press conference in Westminster, denied that Jenrick's defection was a done deal. "I can confirm – hand on heart, honestly, look you in the eye – I was not going to be unveiling Robert Jenrick at 4.30 this afternoon," he stated, suggesting Badenoch had "panicked".
However, Farage confirmed the two had dined together last month and had conversations. He also expressed significant reservations about accepting former Conservatives, warning they could bring Tory infighting with them. "We will not be a Tory party 2.0," Farage emphasised, stating any defector would need to admit past policies on net zero and mass migration were mistakes.
Political Fallout and Reactions
Badenoch, who declined to speak to Jenrick directly and left the sacking to Chief Whip Rebecca Harris, framed the decision as a necessary break from past Tory psychodrama. In a video posted on X, she said, "When I was elected leader, I committed to doing politics differently. Disloyalty and dishonesty undermine trust in politics."
The move was praised by some Conservative MPs, with former chief whip Julian Smith calling it "100% right" to define the terms of being part of the team. In contrast, Labour's party chair, Anna Turley, labelled it "the latest sad soap opera episode from a chaotic Conservative party."
One shadow cabinet minister suggested Jenrick's frustration grew as Badenoch's popularity surged after the party conference, leaving "no vacancy at the top of the Tories." Any move by Jenrick to Reform UK would have been the most high-profile defection of a sitting MP since shadow minister Danny Kruger.
