Former Conservative minister Robert Jenrick has issued a stark message to fellow Tory MPs contemplating a move to Reform UK, telling them they must "make their minds up soon" as the insurgent party gathers momentum.
A Defector's Certainty and a Call to Arms
Jenrick, who was sacked as shadow justice secretary by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch on Thursday, made the comments just hours before publicly announcing his own defection. Speaking to LBC ahead of a Reform UK rally in his Newark constituency in Nottinghamshire, he extended an invitation to any parliamentarian sharing the party's values.
"Well, Nigel (Farage) has said that any member of parliament who shares our values and principles is welcome in Reform," Jenrick stated. "But they've got to make up their minds soon, because this party is moving fast. And after the May elections, we really hope to have made massive progress across the whole of the country."
'Never Felt Stronger' – Jenrick's Rallying Cry
Addressing hundreds of cheering supporters at the rally, Jenrick expressed absolute conviction about his decision to leave the Conservatives. "I have never felt stronger and more certain about anything I have done in my life," he declared.
He framed his departure as an act of principle, stating: "I was forced to resign and I rebelled against my own party to fight for something that would actually work. In joining Reform, I have resolved to never, ever defend the indefensible again."
Jenrick emphasised that his move was not just a rejection of the Tories, but an active choice for Reform's vision. "I didn't just leave the Conservatives because they can't fix Britain, and they can't, take my word for it … I left because Reform will fix Britain."
Reform's Growing Ranks and Ambitions
Jenrick's defection was swiftly followed by that of Tory MP Andrew Rosindell, who announced his switch on Sunday evening. Rosindell, a Conservative member since 2001, cited the party's "failure" on the issue of "Chagossian self-determination" as a key reason for resigning as a shadow foreign office minister.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage used the rally to proclaim a unification of the centre-right. "We will replace the Conservative Party as the main opposition party in British politics," he told supporters. "The next general election may be our last chance to turn this country round and we are determined, and, you know what, we are going to win."
Farage dismissed suggestions of future friction with Jenrick, telling the BBC: "So far, so good. There's no reason why we should." He noted Jenrick was once "odds-on favourite to be the next leader of the Conservative Party" and called his defection "logical, perhaps inevitable."
Reform UK chairman David Bull delivered a scathing assessment of the Tory record, accusing them of delivering "open borders, a shattered economy and a broken healthcare system." He asserted: "Let me tell you, the Tories can never, ever be trusted again." Bull also lamented the unfulfilled promises of Brexit, blaming "poor planning and abysmal leadership."
The party, which now boasts seven MPs following the latest defections, stated it was "utterly delighted" to welcome Robert Jenrick into its ranks.
