In a bold move, Kemi Badenoch, the Tory party leader, swiftly ousted her former shadow cabinet colleague Robert Jenrick just days before he could publicly announce his defection to the Reform UK party. Badenoch’s decisive action, described by one senior Tory as “delicious,” has dealt a significant blow to Nigel Farage’s plans to recruit the high-profile Conservative MP.
Jenrick had been in discussions with Farage since as early as last September, and there were rumors of a lunch meeting between the two in December. However, Badenoch’s team was one step ahead, receiving screenshots of what appeared to be Jenrick’s resignation speech and accompanying media plan from a mole in his office.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Badenoch acted quickly, instructing her chief whip, Rebecca Harris, to confront Jenrick. Despite his initial denial, Badenoch released a video message outlining the charges against him, timed to coincide with Farage’s press conference in Scotland, where the Reform UK leader had hoped to announce Jenrick’s defection.
Farage seemed caught off guard, insisting there was no deal done with Jenrick “yet.” The Tory leader’s decisive action has drawn widespread praise, even from some of her more skeptical colleagues. One MP described Badenoch as having “some cojones,” while another senior Conservative praised her for “having the guts to sack people when they deserve it.”
Jenrick’s fall from grace within the party has been swift. Once a rising star, the former shadow justice secretary has been criticized for his “reckless ambition” and “dishonesty.” A former cabinet minister described him as a “snake in the grass” during Rishi Sunak’s tenure as prime minister, with Jenrick’s allies accused of leaking sensitive information to journalists.
Despite Farage’s attempts to put a positive spin on the situation, Badenoch’s preemptive strike has left the Reform UK leader with an unwelcome surprise. As one senior Tory source put it, “Jenrick’s clever-dick people, they’re not so clever after all.”
The episode serves as a testament to Badenoch’s political acumen and her willingness to take decisive action to maintain discipline within her party. It remains to be seen how Jenrick’s defection will impact the political landscape, but Badenoch has undoubtedly emerged from this episode with her reputation enhanced.
