Robert Jenrick faced a tense confrontation on live television on Friday, as former Conservative colleague Victoria Atkins accused him of abandoning their friendship after his defection to Reform UK. Speaking on the BBC’s local election programme, Atkins revealed she had not spoken to Jenrick since he left the party in January, describing it as a 'great personal loss'.
Atkins, who had previously backed Jenrick’s leadership bid, appeared visibly upset during the exchange, at times unable to look him in the eye. She questioned Jenrick’s trustworthiness, stating: 'How one conducts oneself is important. This is a message that will continue until the general election, that if people are asking the voters for trust, then that has to be genuine.'
Jenrick attempted to shift the focus to the Conservatives’ record in government, arguing that the party had broken trust with the British public by failing to secure borders. Atkins interrupted, pointing out that Jenrick had been immigration minister when immigration rose to its highest levels. Jenrick countered that he had resigned because he was 'appalled' by what he had seen.
When pressed on why he had not contacted Atkins for four months, Jenrick replied: 'I don’t personalise things. That is not the way I conduct myself.' The exchange highlighted the unusually bitter rift between Jenrick and his former party, which has included public accusations and leaked private messages.
