Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has sacked her shadow justice secretary, Robert Jenrick, over “irrefutable evidence that he was plotting in secret to defect” – but do you think it was the right decision? The leader of the opposition has claimed Mr Jenrick was planning to leave the party “in a way designed to be as damaging as possible”, with sources suggesting he was plotting a defection to Reform UK.
Rumours have circled about Mr Jenrick’s leadership ambitions since he was beaten by Ms Badenoch in the 2024 leadership contest and he has repeatedly stepped out beyond the shadow cabinet line. So what do you think? Vote in our poll and join the debate in the comments section. Can’t see the poll below? Click here.
Announcing the decision, Ms Badenoch said on X: “I have sacked Robert Jenrick from the shadow cabinet, removed the whip and suspended his party membership with immediate effect.
“I was presented with clear, irrefutable evidence that he was plotting in secret to defect in a way designed to be as damaging as possible to his shadow cabinet colleagues and the wider Conservative Party.
“The British public are tired of political psychodrama and so am I. They saw too much of it in the last government, they’re seeing too much of it in this Government. I will not repeat those mistakes.”
A source told The Times that Ms Badenoch had ousted the shadow justice secretary after her team obtained a copy of Mr Jenrick’s drafted resignation speech.
Reform leader Nigel Farage insisted he was “very surprised” by the news but admitted he had been in talks with Mr Jenrick, suggesting he could become the latest in a string of Tory defections to the insurgent party.
“Of course, I’ve talked to Robert Jenrick,” Mr Farage said at a press conference today. “Was I on the verge of signing a document with him? No. But have we had conversations? Yes.”
“I think virtually every Conservative is considering leaving the Conservatives, yes,” he continued. “I’ll give him a ring this afternoon. I might even buy him a pint.”