The Conservative Party has been rocked by the defection of former shadow cabinet minister Robert Jenrick to Nigel Farage's Reform UK, prompting his successor to declare the public is fed up with political infighting.
A Decisive Sacking and a Call for Seriousness
Nick Timothy, who took over the shadow justice brief after Jenrick was sacked, made his comments during his first media round in the new role. He described Jenrick as a friend but stated his departure revealed a clear contrast between the Conservatives and other parties.
"The public are sick of the backbiting and the backstabbing and the lack of seriousness in our political parties when the challenges that the country faces are so serious," Timothy told BBC Breakfast on Friday 16 January 2026.
He revealed that Opposition Leader Kemi Badenoch was given irrefutable evidence that Jenrick was plotting to join Reform, leading to his pre-emptive removal from the frontbench and suspension from the party on Thursday.
Jenrick's Accusations and Reform's Deadline
In a sometimes chaotic press conference, Jenrick accused his former party of being rotten and claimed it had "failed in government." He said a recent shadow cabinet discussion about whether Britain is "broken" convinced him to leave, arguing the Tories in Westminster were "in denial – or being dishonest."
In response, Badenoch told the Press Association that dishonest people are leaving for Reform, telling Farage: "Robert Jenrick is not my problem, he’s your problem."
Meanwhile, Reform has set a deadline of 7 May for further Tory defections, coinciding with local elections. The party's head of policy, Zia Yusuf, said there would be "no more Tories" accepted after that date, a position echoed by Farage.
Claims of Unity and Future Defections
Despite the high-profile departure, Nick Timothy insisted the party's reaction in Parliament was one of resolve and surprise. He claimed the Conservative Party is now more united under Kemi Badenoch's leadership than it has been for many years.
When asked about the prospect of more MPs crossing the floor, Timothy gave a personal commitment: "I joined the Conservative Party as a 17-year-old and I will die a member of the Conservative Party."
Reform leader Nigel Farage promised to unveil a defection from the Labour Party next week, though Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden dismissed the threat, insisting Labour is focused on governing rather than "endless civil war."
The defection follows those of former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi and sitting MP Danny Kruger, marking a significant challenge to the Conservatives from the right.
