New recruit / Robert Jenrick joins Reform |
Robert Jenrick has rounded off an extraordinary day on the British right by formally joining Reform. Sacked by Kemi Badenoch at 11 a.m., he was in Milbank Tower announcing his defection at 4:30 p.m. A grinning Nigel Farage gave him a brief introduction – only for there to be an awkward 30-second pause before Jenrick finally appeared. The Newark MP gave a 15-minute speech which set out his reasons for quitting. After a fairly dry first half which echoed his 2024 leadership campaign – with a detailed litany of state capacity failings – he then moved onto the crucial section of the speech: a denunciation of the party he served for two decades. Jenrick castigated his now former shadow cabinet members, turning on both Mel Stride and Priti........