Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the Conservative Party, publicly criticized Robert Jenrick, her former frontbench colleague, for his recent defection to the Reform Party. On March 24, 2024, Badenoch described Jenrick as someone who “tells a lot of lies” and suggested he cannot be trusted. This statement marked her first public remarks about Jenrick since his unexpected departure from the shadow cabinet, where he had served as shadow justice secretary.
Badenoch’s remarks came shortly after she announced via social media that she had removed Jenrick from his position after discovering his plans to defect. During an interview with GB News, she stated, “It’s quite clear that Robert Jenrick tells a lot of lies and you can’t believe a word that comes out of his mouth.” She claimed that just hours before his defection, Jenrick denied any intention to leave the Conservative Party during a conversation with the chief whip.
In her comments, Badenoch expressed gratitude to Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform, for “doing my spring cleaning for me.” She added that information from various Conservative Party members had reached her regarding Jenrick’s alleged actions to undermine party unity. “We are even more united than we were because we’re a stronger team… Robert Jenrick was not a team player,” she stated while addressing reporters in Scotland.
Jenrick, for his part, announced his defection at a press conference later that day, where he criticized the Conservative Party for “breaking Britain.” He urged other right-wing politicians to join him in the Reform Party, claiming that the current party structure is incapable of effectively opposing Labour. In his article for the *Telegraph*, he emphasized, “The fact is the Tory party is so compromised it cannot speak for the country and oppose Labour’s madness.”
While Reform anticipates that more Conservatives and potentially one Labour politician may follow Jenrick’s lead, some within the Conservative ranks expressed skepticism. Nick Timothy, a close ally of Jenrick, who has taken over as shadow justice secretary, stated during an interview with Sky News that voters are tired of political infighting. “The country is absolutely sick of the backbiting and the lack of seriousness with which lots of politicians have taken the very serious and significant challenges that the country faces,” he noted.
The fallout from Jenrick’s departure also prompted comments from former Conservative cabinet member Michael Gove. He suggested that the recent events have only strengthened Badenoch’s leadership and weakened the Reform Party’s positioning. “After the defection of Nadhim Zahawi earlier this week, there’s a risk that, rather than seeming like a fresh force determined to clear up politics, they look rather more like Slytherin house,” Gove remarked during an appearance on BBC Radio 4.
In contrast, the Labour Party appeared unconcerned about possible defections from their ranks, including comments made by Farage regarding an incoming Labour defector next week. Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, dismissed such claims during an interview with ITV Tyne Tees, advising the public to take Farage’s statements “with a pinch of salt.” A Labour source further indicated skepticism about the likelihood of a high-profile defector, questioning Farage’s credibility on such matters.
The political landscape remains dynamic as both parties navigate the implications of these defections and the ongoing challenges they face in addressing the concerns of the electorate.
