Jenrick defects to Reform UK
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Former shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick defected from the Conservative Party to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch sacked him over plans to join the party.
BREAKING Kemi Badenoch has sacked Robert Jenrick from the shadow cabinet, removed the whip and suspended his party membership.
She says she was "presented with clear, irrefutable evidence that he was plotting in secret to defect" to Reform
She says she was "presented with clear, irrefutable evidence that he was plotting in secret to defect" to Reform
January 15, 2026 at 11:08 AM
BREAKING Kemi Badenoch has sacked Robert Jenrick from the shadow cabinet, removed the whip and suspended his party membership.
She says she was "presented with clear, irrefutable evidence that he was plotting in secret to defect" to Reform
She says she was "presented with clear, irrefutable evidence that he was plotting in secret to defect" to Reform
Reposted by Tim Bale, Steve Peers, Ben H. Ansell , and 1 more Tim Bale, Steve Peers, Ben H. Ansell, Jonathan Portes
“Robert Jenrick is the man who as Immigration Minister oversaw the open borders experiment that led to the biggest increase in illegal immigration in our country”
Labour's Steve Reed reacts to Robert Jenrick's decision to defect from the Conservatives to Reform UK
Labour's Steve Reed reacts to Robert Jenrick's decision to defect from the Conservatives to Reform UK
January 16, 2026 at 7:18 AM
“Robert Jenrick is the man who as Immigration Minister oversaw the open borders experiment that led to the biggest increase in illegal immigration in our country”
Labour's Steve Reed reacts to Robert Jenrick's decision to defect from the Conservatives to Reform UK
Labour's Steve Reed reacts to Robert Jenrick's decision to defect from the Conservatives to Reform UK
Reposted by Patrick Dunleavy, Will Jennings, Steve Peers
Sums up how rubbish Badenoch is that she has been forced into a “You’re dumping me? I’m dumping you!” rather than just sacking and disbarring Jenrick over the many, many things that would have kept him out of any Tory Cabinet since 1968.
January 15, 2026 at 11:14 AM
Sums up how rubbish Badenoch is that she has been forced into a “You’re dumping me? I’m dumping you!” rather than just sacking and disbarring Jenrick over the many, many things that would have kept him out of any Tory Cabinet since 1968.
by Steve Peers
Repeating a bullshit far right trope does not make it real - or help Labour in any way
“Robert Jenrick is the man who as Immigration Minister oversaw the open borders experiment that led to the biggest increase in illegal immigration in our country”
Labour's Steve Reed reacts to Robert Jenrick's decision to defect from the Conservatives to Reform UK
Labour's Steve Reed reacts to Robert Jenrick's decision to defect from the Conservatives to Reform UK
January 16, 2026 at 9:47 AM
Repeating a bullshit far right trope does not make it real - or help Labour in any way
Reposted by Patrick Dunleavy
I had completely forgotten that Robert Jenrick was nothing at all to do with the disastrous Tory governments, despite being part of it for ten years and holding ministerial posts in Housing, Health and Immigration.
January 16, 2026 at 8:41 AM
I had completely forgotten that Robert Jenrick was nothing at all to do with the disastrous Tory governments, despite being part of it for ten years and holding ministerial posts in Housing, Health and Immigration.
Reposted by Ben Rosamond, Ian Loader, Peter Holmes , and 1 more Ben Rosamond, Ian Loader, Peter Holmes, Stephen Ryan
Incredibly, no-one on Nigel Farage’s team has got round to deleting this post. It’s still live as Robert Jenrick gives his big defection speech.
January 15, 2026 at 4:49 PM
Incredibly, no-one on Nigel Farage’s team has got round to deleting this post. It’s still live as Robert Jenrick gives his big defection speech.
‘Ben Habib, former co-leader of Reform who resigned from the party in 2024, questioned why Farage had gone to such great lengths “just to recreate the Tory party”.
‘“Farage won’t be able to bear other people sharing the limelight. None of this is going to end well for any of the new recruits,” … 1/
‘“Farage won’t be able to bear other people sharing the limelight. None of this is going to end well for any of the new recruits,” … 1/
January 16, 2026 at 8:43 AM
‘Ben Habib, former co-leader of Reform who resigned from the party in 2024, questioned why Farage had gone to such great lengths “just to recreate the Tory party”.
‘“Farage won’t be able to bear other people sharing the limelight. None of this is going to end well for any of the new recruits,” … 1/
‘“Farage won’t be able to bear other people sharing the limelight. None of this is going to end well for any of the new recruits,” … 1/
by Steve Peers
Reminder that it used to be UKIP policy (during Farage's leadership) that defecting MPs should resign and run again in a by election (and the first two MPs to defect to UKIP did so)
It’s always fun hearing defecting MPs explain why they won’t be holding a by-election to check their constituents are happy with their new party.
Jenrick claims he was elected at the last general election based on his personal profile and politics.
Jenrick claims he was elected at the last general election based on his personal profile and politics.
January 15, 2026 at 5:42 PM
Reminder that it used to be UKIP policy (during Farage's leadership) that defecting MPs should resign and run again in a by election (and the first two MPs to defect to UKIP did so)
Robert Jenrick: an apology. thecritic.co.uk/fran...
January 15, 2026 at 8:28 PM
Robert Jenrick: an apology. thecritic.co.uk/fran...
Jenrick's now faced with quite the dilemma. Deny and fight, claiming it's a smear designed to kneecap Badenoch's biggest rival. Or go all in and jump ship to Reform straight away. Worst option would be to pretend there's nothing in it only to confirm she was right all along by defecting later.
Robert Jenrick sacked from Tory shadow cabinet for 'plotting to defect'
Robert Jenrick sacked from Tory shadow cabinet for 'plotting to defect'
Robert Jenrick has been sacked from the Tories' shadow cabinet for "plotting in secret to defect", Kemi Badenoch has said.
news.sky.com
January 15, 2026 at 12:39 PM
Jenrick's now faced with quite the dilemma. Deny and fight, claiming it's a smear designed to kneecap Badenoch's biggest rival. Or go all in and jump ship to Reform straight away. Worst option would be to pretend there's nothing in it only to confirm she was right all along by defecting later.
I guess he'll definitely be defecting now!
BREAKING Kemi Badenoch has sacked Robert Jenrick from the shadow cabinet, removed the whip and suspended his party membership.
She says she was "presented with clear, irrefutable evidence that he was plotting in secret to defect" to Reform
She says she was "presented with clear, irrefutable evidence that he was plotting in secret to defect" to Reform
January 15, 2026 at 11:09 AM
I guess he'll definitely be defecting now!
It is simply a lie to claim that the Conservative government (or any other UK government in recent history) oversaw 'an open borders experiment".
No excuse for the PM or Reed repeating this lie or for media not describing it as such.
No excuse for the PM or Reed repeating this lie or for media not describing it as such.
“Robert Jenrick is the man who as Immigration Minister oversaw the open borders experiment that led to the biggest increase in illegal immigration in our country”
Labour's Steve Reed reacts to Robert Jenrick's decision to defect from the Conservatives to Reform UK
Labour's Steve Reed reacts to Robert Jenrick's decision to defect from the Conservatives to Reform UK
January 16, 2026 at 8:37 AM
It is simply a lie to claim that the Conservative government (or any other UK government in recent history) oversaw 'an open borders experiment".
No excuse for the PM or Reed repeating this lie or for media not describing it as such.
No excuse for the PM or Reed repeating this lie or for media not describing it as such.
… he added.’ www.ft.com/content/029c... Jenrick defection redraws battle lines on right of British politics
Jenrick defection redraws battle lines on right of British politics
But ex-Tory minister’s switch to Reform raises questions about whether he will be a help or a hindrance to Farage
www.ft.com
January 16, 2026 at 8:43 AM
… he added.’ www.ft.com/content/029c... Jenrick defection redraws battle lines on right of British politics
by Steve Peers
Jenrick joining Reform party, Farage announces www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cr...
Robert Jenrick joins Reform UK after being sacked by Conservatives - live updates
Nigel Farage announces the move at a news conference in London, hours after Jenrick was sacked by Kemi Badenoch.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 15, 2026 at 4:43 PM
Jenrick joining Reform party, Farage announces www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cr...
by Tim Bale Reposted by Jonathan Portes
I think it's extremely important to remember that the Tories were well on their way to becoming an ersatz populist radical right party long before Robert Jenrick got his hardman haircut and his fat-jabs and started banging on about immigration - and the slide won't necessarily stop now he's gone.
January 15, 2026 at 5:30 PM
I think it's extremely important to remember that the Tories were well on their way to becoming an ersatz populist radical right party long before Robert Jenrick got his hardman haircut and his fat-jabs and started banging on about immigration - and the slide won't necessarily stop now he's gone.