Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has delivered a firm rebuttal to former colleague Robert Jenrick, insisting that Britain is "not broken" following his dramatic defection to Nigel Farage's Reform UK.
A Public Clash Over Britain's State
The political row erupted after Mr Jenrick, the former shadow justice secretary, described Britain as "broken" during a press conference alongside Nigel Farage on Thursday, 16 January 2026. He blamed both the Conservative and Labour parties for the country's economic decline and argued that only Reform could provide a solution.
In a direct response published in the Daily Telegraph, Mrs Badenoch struck a defiantly optimistic tone. She wrote that the UK is "still one of the most successful, resilient and influential countries on Earth", a nation that has repeatedly reinvented itself. She accused politicians of dragging the public down by claiming the country was finished.
"Yes, Britain's problems are real, and in some cases getting worse," Badenoch conceded. "But Britain is not broken. We are a great country with deep reserves of strength, talent, and resilience." She shifted criticism onto the political system and the Labour Party, arguing that their approach of endless consultations and state control would make people poorer, not richer.
The Defection and its Aftermath
Mr Jenrick's move to Reform came hours after Mrs Badenoch dismissed him from the shadow cabinet and suspended him from the Conservative Party on Thursday, 16 January 2026. The Tory leader stated she had evidence he was planning to defect.
Although both Jenrick and Farage denied the defection was pre-planned for that specific day, Jenrick told the BBC he had 'resolved' to leave during the Christmas break. He claimed his defection was about "uniting the right" and putting country before party, denying personal ambition was a factor.
He revealed the "final straw" was a shadow cabinet away day last week, where he argued with frontbench colleagues over whether Britain was broken. He said some privately agreed with him but felt they could not say so publicly because the Tories had been in government for 14 years.
Ruling Out Deals and Mounting Criticism
The fallout continued on Friday, 17 January 2026, with Mrs Badenoch, on a visit to Aberdeen, completely ruling out any electoral pact with Reform. "How do you do a deal with liars?" she asked reporters, accusing Reform figures of long-term dishonesty.
Labour Party chairwoman Anna Turley also launched a scathing attack on Mr Jenrick, labelling him "one of the arsonists who inflicted chaos and decline" on Britain during his time as a minister in the previous Conservative government.
This public spat highlights the deep fractures on the British right, setting the stage for a contentious battle ahead of the next general election.
