In a move that has sent shockwaves through Westminster, former immigration minister Robert Jenrick has announced he is leaving the Conservative Party to join Reform UK.
Speaking at a press conference led by Nigel Farage, Jenrick didn’t mince words, declaring that both the Tories and Labour have “forfeited the right to govern the United Kingdom.”
The Newark MP, long rumored to have considered challenging Kemi Badenoch for the Conservative leadership, made his defection official in a statement praising Farage and Reform UK as the only party capable of delivering “real change” for the country.
The Fallout With Kemi Badenoch
Jenrick’s departure was not entirely a surprise — the Conservative Party had already sacked him from the shadow cabinet, removed the whip, and suspended his membership.
Party leader Kemi Badenoch cited “clear, irrefutable evidence” that Jenrick was plotting his defection in secret in a manner designed to harm both the shadow cabinet and the wider party.
The saga became even more public after extracts of Jenrick’s notes were leaked.
In them, he praised Farage, boasted of joining Reform as its 281,000th member, and urged fellow Conservatives to follow him out the door.
The notes, however, contained a number of grammatical errors, which the Tories highlighted in a pointed public rebuttal.
Joining Forces With Nigel Farage
At the Reform UK press conference, Farage welcomed Jenrick warmly, describing the defection as a “Christmas present” and crediting Badenoch, in a roundabout way, for handing him one of the most popular figures in centre-right politics.
He emphasized Jenrick’s approval rating and framed the move as a crucial step in realigning the centre-right against what he described as a “dreadful Labour Government” and a “worrying extreme left-wing voice” in the country.
“Negotiations with Jenrick are over. There’s nothing more to be said or done,” Farage said.
“I will welcome Robert Jenrick into this room and into Reform UK.”
Jenrick’s Message to Conservatives
When Jenrick finally appeared, after a noticeable delay, he struck a defiant tone. “It’s time for the truth.
Britain has been in decline. Britain is in decline,” he told reporters.
He urged Conservatives disillusioned with their party to leave and warned that staying in a party that “hasn’t been loyal to you” is no longer acceptable.
In his leaked speech notes, he explicitly encouraged members and even political newcomers to join Reform UK, arguing that both the Conservatives and Labour have failed to meet the country’s challenges and that only Farage’s movement offers a real plan for recovery.
A Defection With Wider Implications
Political insiders say Jenrick’s move could embolden other disaffected Conservatives to reconsider their positions.
With Reform UK now gaining a high-profile figure like Jenrick, Farage’s party is positioning itself as a serious contender for voters frustrated with the traditional political establishment.
Jenrick framed his decision as being about the country rather than personal ambition, stating, “If like me, you’ve backed another party but know it’s lost its way, don’t stay.
Don’t stay in a party that hasn’t been loyal to you. When your country needs you.”
The Centre-Right Shake-Up
The defection has thrown the Conservative Party into uncharted waters.
With Jenrick gone, Badenoch faces the challenge of keeping her MPs united while navigating growing public scrutiny over party loyalty and internal plotting.
Meanwhile, Reform UK is celebrating what it sees as a significant win in its mission to attract experienced politicians and reshape Britain’s centre-right landscape.
Jenrick’s move also underscores a larger narrative: a deepening frustration among some politicians and voters alike with the traditional two-party system, and a desire for a party that promises decisive change rather than incremental compromise.
What Comes Next
As Jenrick officially joins Reform UK, the coming weeks are expected to test the party’s ability to absorb high-profile figures and translate political discontent into tangible support. Both Conservative and Labour strategists are reportedly assessing the potential ripple effects, aware that a high-profile defection could embolden others to follow.
In Jenrick’s words: “I agree Britain is broken. In major decline. On the brink. In need of real change. And know neither Conservatives nor Labour will deliver it. Come join Reform.”
The move marks one of the most dramatic realignments in recent British politics, and the consequences for Westminster and the next general election are already being debated across party lines.
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