The Conservative Party’s internal turmoil shows no signs of abating, as former minister Robert Jenrick has responded to allegations of dishonesty from his ex-leader Kemi Badenoch. Jenrick, who dramatically defected to Reform UK this week, has accused the “arsonists” who damaged the Tories’ reputation of still being in control of the party.
In a tell-all interview with the BBC, Jenrick defended himself against Badenoch’s claims that he had lied about his intentions to defect. He insisted that he “could not have been franker” and that he had come to the conclusion over the past year that the Conservatives had not changed, with the “arsonists” still in power.
Badenoch, in her own media appearances, hit back at Jenrick, saying: “You can’t believe a word that comes out of his mouth.” She accused him of actively working to undermine the party, despite her attempts to give him the benefit of the doubt.
The public spat between the two former Tory leadership rivals underscores the deep divisions within the party. Jenrick’s defection has been welcomed by some Conservatives, who see it as strengthening Badenoch’s position, while others have criticised it as contributing to the “backbiting” and “lack of seriousness” that has plagued British politics.
Former Tory minister Michael Gove warned that Reform UK risked looking like “Slytherin house” rather than a “fresh force determined to clear up politics.” Meanwhile, Nick Timothy, who has taken over Jenrick’s role as shadow justice secretary, said voters would not welcome his former colleague’s move.
Jenrick has urged other right-wingers to follow his example, writing in the Telegraph that “the future of the country is on the line.” However, he told the BBC that he was unaware of any other imminent high-profile defections.
Labour, for its part, has brushed off Nigel Farage’s claims about an incoming Labour defector, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves telling ITV Tyne Tees that “Nigel Farage says a lot of things and I think we should all take those with a pinch of salt.”
As the Conservative Party continues to grapple with its internal divisions, the political landscape in the UK remains turbulent, with the future of the country’s governance hanging in the balance.
