Nigel Farage has broken his silence to confirm he has held private discussions with former Conservative minister Robert Jenrick, following Jenrick's sensational sacking from the Tory frontbench. The revelation throws fuel on the fire of speculation that Jenrick is poised to defect to Reform UK.
A Dramatic Sacking and Immediate Fallout
The political earthquake began on the morning of 15 January 2026, when Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch announced she had dismissed Robert Jenrick from the Shadow Cabinet, removed the party whip, and suspended his membership with immediate effect.
In a statement posted on X, Badenoch said she was presented with "clear, irrefutable evidence" that Jenrick was secretly plotting to defect in a manner "designed to be as damaging as possible" to his colleagues and the wider party. She expressed frustration with political psychodrama, vowing not to repeat the mistakes of past governments.
Farage's Admission and Olive Branch
Speaking at a press conference in Edinburgh later that day, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was asked directly about the rumours. He admitted: "Of course, I’ve spoken to Robert Jenrick. Was I on the verge of signing a document with him? No. But have we had conversations? Yes."
Farage extended something of an olive branch to the now-independent MP, quipping that he would call him that afternoon and "might even buy him a pint." This marked a significant shift in tone from Farage's previous, highly critical comments about Jenrick.
Historical Tensions and Recent Defections
Any potential defection would require Jenrick to bridge a substantial gap with the Reform leader. During the Tory leadership race, Farage launched a brutal attack, branding Jenrick a fraud and accusing him of adopting hardline positions "for political gain and not out of conviction."
Farage specifically criticised Jenrick's record as Immigration Minister, highlighting that the number of asylum seekers in hotels ballooned to around 56,000 under his watch. As recently as last week, Reform's London mayoral candidate, Laila Cunningham, expressed reluctance about welcoming him, stating she was "sick and tired" of Tories criticising problems they helped create.
Despite these internal misgivings, Reform has actively welcomed former Conservative MPs into its ranks. The most high-profile recent acquisition was Nadhim Zahawi, who joined the party just days earlier on Monday, 13 January 2026. Jenrick's move would represent another major coup for Farage's growing political project.
The coming days will reveal whether Robert Jenrick's conversations with Nigel Farage lead to a formal defection, further destabilising the Conservative Party and reshaping the landscape on the right of British politics.
