Nigel Farage has reacted to the sacking of Robert Jenrick today during a press conference to appoint a party leader in Scotland.
The Reform UK leader said he was “very surprised” about the news Mr Jenrick had been sacked this morning. He added the pair had a “lot of conversations” over recent months.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch sacked her Shadow Justice Secretary and suspended him from the party after “he was plotting in secret to defect” to Reform UK.
Kemi Badenoch 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.”
Reacting to the news Mr Farage said: “I’m going to say that I’ve had conversations with a number of very senior Conservatives over the course of the last week and the last month.
“A lot of them realise that, for all the talk about Kemi doing better at PMQs which is true and all the talk of a supposed Kemi bounce, a lot of them understand that on May 7th or should I say May 8th the Conservative Party could cease to be a national party.
Nigel Farage reacted to the news at a press conference today
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“They could be wiped out in Scotland, in Wales, and across the Red Wall. Councils, if not all, may cancel elections—we’ll find out later today.
“So a lot of people are seriously considering their future as far as Mr Jenrick is concerned. Of course, I’ve spoken to Robert Jenrick.
“Was I on the verge of signing a document with him? No. But have we had conversations? Yes.”
He added: “I’ve little doubt that’s been on his mind [to defect.] But, you know, have we signed and sealed a deal? No.
“And many of those who come to talk to me ultimately decide not to go through with it.
“I never betray confidences or reveal exactly who they are, but there are a lot of people in Mr Jenrick’s position who don’t see a viable future for the Conservative Party.
“I think May 7th is going to be a very, very big day. Frankly, many are beginning to see parallels with what happened to the Liberal Party almost exactly 100 years ago, when they went from being a natural party of Government to a very small provincial party and they’ve largely stayed there for the last century.”
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 Reform UK.
After Mr Jenrick’s dismissal was announced, Labour MP Josh Simons asked Reform MP Sarah Pochin in the Commons if he was defecting to her party.
She simply smiled and shrugged her shoulders in response.
In her video alongside her post, Mrs Badenoch added: “When I was elected leader, I committed to doing politics differently.
“Disloyalty and dishonesty undermine trust in politics – they’re also disrespectful to our party members, our councillors, MPs and most of all, voters. You all deserve better.
“Conservative suffered a heavy defeat in 2024, that was painful, but we are rebuilding with strong principles, clear plans and with a serious team united around a shared purpose.
“When individuals choose to walk away from that effort for personal ambition, It tells you nothing about the Conservative Party and everything you need to know about them.
“There will be more to say, and I know a lot of commentary about this decision, but I want you all to be in no doubt – at a time global uncertainty I’m focussed on holding the Government to account, ensuring they are acting in the national interest and the Conservatives deliver a proper plan for a stronger economy, stronger borders and a stronger Britain.”
More to follow…