LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 15: Former Conservative MP Robert Jenrick (L) shakes hands with Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage (R), as he announces his joining of the Reform UK Party on January 15, 2026 in London, England. Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch removed Mr Jenrick from shadow justice secretary and suspended his party membership this morning over rumours he was plotting to defect. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)

In booting out her erstwhile rival, Badenoch may have won herself a day’s worth of positive headlines but has done deep damage to the Conservative Party. She has lost an effective media performer with a detailed policy brain and extensive government experience: exactly the sort of battle-hardened but repentant ex-minister Reform were crying out for, says William Atkinson

Towards the end of last year, I made a very basic and very stupid mistake: I was optimistic about the Conservative Party. There were a variety of reasons why: seasonal goodwill, improving poll ratings for Kemi Badenoch, a nagging existential sense that my decade of membership had not been for nought. But, I’m afraid to say, that I was........

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