Reform UK leader speaks out after senior Tory is sacked in sensational move
Nigel Farage has said that “of course” he has had conversations with Robert Jenrick as he reacted to the now former shadow justice secretary’s bombshell sacking. The Reform UK leader was giving a press conference in Edinburgh to unveil the insurgent party’s Scottish leader when Tory leader Kemi Badenoch announced his dismissal.
She said there was “irrefutable evidence that he was plotting in secret to defect in a way designed to be as damaging as possible”, but did not specify which party. It follows ongoing speculation over whether Mr Jenrick could be the next Tory to defect to Reform.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage (Image: Getty)
Speaking in at the press conference, Mr Farage said: “I’m very surprised that this news is broken.”
Asked if he had been speaking to Mr Jenrick, he added: “I never reveal private conversations of anybody, which is why when people like Malcolm Offord came to me to talk, and he was a frontbencher, nothing ever leaked.
“I’m going to say that I’ve had conversations with a number of very senior Conservatives over the course of the last week, over the course of the last month.”
Pressed again about whether he had spoken to Mr Jenrick, Mr Farage said: “Of course I’ve talked to Robert Jenrick. Was I on the verge of signing a document with him? No. But have we had conversations? Yes.”
Mr Farage was asked again if Mr Jenrick had been considering leaving the Tories for Reform, and said: “I think virtually every Conservative is considering leaving the Conservatives, yes.”
Asked if this included Mr Jenrick, he replied: “I think that’s been in his mind, yes. I’ve little doubt it’s been in his mind.”
He added: “I’ll give him a ring this afternoon. I might even buy him a pint.”
Robert Jenrick has been sacked as shadow justice secretary (Image: Getty)
Mrs Badenoch announced that she had sacked Mr Jenrick and suspended him from the Tory Party in a post on X.
She said: “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.”
