Robert Jenrick sacked and suspended by Kemi Badenoch over ‘secret plot to defect’

Robert Jenrick has been sacked as Shadow Justice Secretary and suspended from the Conservative Party after being accused of secretly plotting to defect to Reform UK.

Mr Jenrick, who went up against Kemi Badenoch for the Tory Party leadership in 2024, had previously rejected suggestions that he was looking to join Nigel Farage’s party.

However, Mrs Badenoch confirmed the Newark MP had been sacked, suspended and stripped of his Tory Party membership.

The Tory leader 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."

CCHQ appeared spooked by Mr Farage and Mr Jenrick going for dinner together last month.

Mr Jenrick's team was also said to have left a copy of his "near final" resignation speech "lying around" and supposedly cancelled speaking engagements scheduled for this weekend.

Reform insiders had become increasingly confident about pulling off a major defection coup.

Responding to Mr Jenrick's suspension, Mr Farage said: "I think virtually everybody is considering leaving the Conservative Party, yes.”

"I think that's been in his mind, yes. I have little doubt that it's been in his mind," he added.

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Mr Farage, who unveiled ex-Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi as his 22nd Tory defector on Monday, suggested he would speak to Mr Jenrick again on what "the future might look like".

He continued: “I’ll give him a ring this afternoon. I might even buy him a pint."

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