Kemi Badenoch has called a mass meeting of her Conservative MPs for 6pm tonight after losing two of her MPs to Reform UK in four days, GB News can disclose.
In a letter sent today the Tory leader also laid down the gauntlet to other Tory MP saying that while “differences of opinion are part of a healthy party… those who do not want to be part of the Tory party are free to make other choices”.
Anyone found to be trying to undermine the party “will be dealt with firmly and fairly” she said in language which will be seen as an ultimatum to potential defectors to Reform UK.
Bob Blackman, the chairman of the 1922 committee of Tory MPs, contacted the party’s 120 MPs today summoning them to a meeting in a House of Commons committee room.
Kemi Badenoch has sent a message to Tory MPs
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PA
The meeting has been ordered after the usual meeting of the executive committee of the 1922 committee later today.
That came as Mrs Badenoch wrote to her MPs to reassure them that the party is not about to abandon the right of politics after the loss of Robert Jenrick and Andrew Rosindell to Reform UK.
In her letter to Tory MPs, Mrs Badenoch issued an ultimatum to those flirting with Reform UK.
She said: “Differences of opinion are part of a healthy party. But there is a clear line between disagreement and trying to damage the party from within.
Nigel Farage has confirmed he will not allow any more defections after May 7
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X/ Nigel Farage“Those who cannot be part of a Conservative Party that is changing in this way are free to make other choices. Those who want to undermine or destroy the party will be dealt with firmly and fairly.
“There will be no hard feelings about that as they will create space for those who share our values and purpose.”
Mrs Badenoch also asked the MPs to ensure their staff are not briefing against the party. She said that “the vast majority of staff working for Conservative MPs are hardworking, professional and loyal.
“It is clear however that a small number if individuals were actively briefing against the party while presenting themselves as Conservative sources.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage with new party MP Andrew Rosindell | PA
“I ask everyone to satisfy themselves that their staff are acting in line with our strategy and values. Undermining the party from within, whether by MPs or by staff, is unacceptable.”
Mrs Badenoch described the defections as a “shock to many of you”, adding: “I have spoken to people over the last few days, and I know there is anger and disbelief. That is understandable.”
She continued: “One of the biggest mistakes made in the last Government was allowing a perception to grow that we were divided and that we were in politics for ourselves.
“Allowing minor differences to escalate and taking for granted the electorate’s patience cost us dearly. We must not make that mistake again.
“The Tory party was not about to lurch to the centre ground.
“Some of our colleagues opining on social media seem to have taken these defections as a signal that the party is shifting (or should) ideologically away from the right.
“That is a serious misreading of the situation. These defections are not about policy differences or ideology; they are about character. We are THE party of the right and must remain so.
“These comments are particularly unhelpful given they come from people who actively stood against the Conservative party in the 2019 election and themselves worked to split the centre-right vote.
“The issue right now is not about right or left. but between those who are here for public service and those who put individual ambition above all else. That is the very culture we are now fixing.”
Mrs Badenoch also took aim at Mr Rosindell who “was looking for reasons to leave” after a “confected row last October, with false claims that we were not singing the national anthem at party conference”.