❓WHAT HAPPENED: Robert Jenrick, the now-former Shadow Justice Secretary for the Conservative (Tory) Party in Britain, has been sacked by party leader Olukemi “Kemi” Badenoch for allegedly plotting to defect to Nigel Farage’s Reform Party.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Kemi Badenoch, Robert Jenrick, Nigel Farage, and other Tory and Reform Party figures.
📍WHEN & WHERE: January 15, 2026, in the United Kingdom.
💬KEY QUOTE: “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,” said Badenoch.
🎯IMPACT: Jenrick’s sacking has sparked speculation of major defections to Reform among Conservative lawmakers, as the populist party is increasingly displacing the formerly governing establishment center-right party in Britain.
Robert Jenrick has been removed from his role as the British Conservative (Tory) Party’s Shadow Justice Secretary, Robert Jenrick, by the party’s Nigeria-raised leader, Olukemi “Kemi” Badenoch, following allegations that he was secretly preparing to defect to Nigel Farage‘s Reform Party. Conservative sources said Badenoch acted after being presented with what they described as “totally irrefutable” evidence that Jenrick intended to defect, including a draft resignation speech and reports that he had held meetings with senior figures in Reform.
The move was framed by allies of the Tory leader as an effort to maintain discipline and authority at a time of growing pressure from the right. However, Jenrick was widely regarded as a threat to Badenoch’s leadership, having steadily increased his popularity while she has presided over a collapse in the party’s poll numbers. One ally of Jenrick argued, “This is just a move to take Robert out. There was no reason for him to defect. Many of us saw him as leader elect. This could backfire badly on her.”
Farage acknowledged contact with Jenrick but denied any imminent defection agreement, stating that while discussions had taken place, nothing had been formally agreed. Notably, while Jenrick adopted a strong populist stance on issues such as immigration ahead of the Tories’ ouster by Labour in mid-2024, he campaigned against Brexit in 2016, and was associated with many of the Tories’ liberal policies while they were in office, leading Farage and others in Reform to question his authenticity.
If Jenrick were to join Reform, he would follow other former senior Tories such as Nadine Dorries and Lee Anderson.
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