Tory MP Robert Jenrick has made a shocking defection to Nigel Farage's Reform UK after being sacked from the Conservative shadow cabinet. In a scathing attack on his former party, Jenrick described the Tories as "rotten" and accused them of failing the country. He also singled out several senior MPs, including Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride and Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel, for criticism.
Jenrick's defection was a surprise to both him and Farage, with the Reform UK leader describing it as a "Christmas present". However, he revealed that discussions had been underway since September and were facilitated by former Tory adviser Tim Montgomerie. Jenrick denied any intention of joining Reform UK until recently and claimed that his decision was driven by a desire to join an organisation working towards a more honest approach to politics.
The defection has sparked concern among Conservative MPs, with several sources suggesting that the party's leadership is in disarray. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has defended her position, claiming that defections to Reform are evidence of "people who have gone into politics for the wrong reasons". However, she also acknowledged that Jenrick was no longer a problem for her, saying "he's Nigel Farage's problem now".
Farage, meanwhile, is determined to make Reform UK an attractive option for disaffected Tories. He has vowed to appoint experienced individuals to key roles and to reject any further defections from within the party. However, there remains uncertainty over Jenrick's future role in the party, with some sources suggesting that he could be in contention for the position of economic spokesperson – a move that would put him on a collision course with Reform UK's existing economic spokesperson, Richard Tice.
As the dust settles around this dramatic defection, one thing is clear: the Conservative Party is facing an unprecedented crisis. With several high-profile defectors on the horizon, it remains to be seen how the party will recover from this latest blow.
Jenrick's defection was a surprise to both him and Farage, with the Reform UK leader describing it as a "Christmas present". However, he revealed that discussions had been underway since September and were facilitated by former Tory adviser Tim Montgomerie. Jenrick denied any intention of joining Reform UK until recently and claimed that his decision was driven by a desire to join an organisation working towards a more honest approach to politics.
The defection has sparked concern among Conservative MPs, with several sources suggesting that the party's leadership is in disarray. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has defended her position, claiming that defections to Reform are evidence of "people who have gone into politics for the wrong reasons". However, she also acknowledged that Jenrick was no longer a problem for her, saying "he's Nigel Farage's problem now".
Farage, meanwhile, is determined to make Reform UK an attractive option for disaffected Tories. He has vowed to appoint experienced individuals to key roles and to reject any further defections from within the party. However, there remains uncertainty over Jenrick's future role in the party, with some sources suggesting that he could be in contention for the position of economic spokesperson – a move that would put him on a collision course with Reform UK's existing economic spokesperson, Richard Tice.
As the dust settles around this dramatic defection, one thing is clear: the Conservative Party is facing an unprecedented crisis. With several high-profile defectors on the horizon, it remains to be seen how the party will recover from this latest blow.
I mean, come on, Robert Jenrick just abandoned ship and joined Reform UK out of the blue? That's some serious mid-game shift right there 
. And now he's going after his own party for being "rotten" 
- talk about sour grapes. Farage is actually being pretty cool about it, though, taking the high road and promising to fill in the gaps with experienced folks 
. But seriously, this is a huge blow to the Conservatives. I don't think they can recover from this one unless they figure out what went wrong and make some serious changes 
. And let's be real, Kemi Badenoch is not exactly known for being the most... diplomatic 
.
I'm shocked by Robert Jenrick's defection to Reform UK! 
He's been speaking out about the Tory party being "rotten" and failing the country for ages now. It's like he was already done with them 
. The fact that discussions were going on since September is no surprise, but I'm glad he's finally following his conscience. 
. Kemi Badenoch's response was a bit weak imo 
. It's clear she thinks Jenrick is no longer a problem for her, but I think it's time to take responsibility and show him the door 
. As for Farage's plans, we'll see how that plays out 
. One thing's for sure: this crisis will shake things up in the Conservative party for good 
The fact that he's going straight to Reform UK shows that he's not looking to cause any more trouble within his own party. I think this could be a game-changer for Reform UK, though - they need someone with Jenrick's experience and know-how to help them gain traction.