Reform UK member Nadine Dorries left GB News star Tom Harwood visibly stunned after giving a blunt verdict on Robert Jenrick’s sacking and suspension.
The exchange came just hours after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch announced she had removed Mr Jenrick from his position as Shadow Justice Secretary, stripped him of the party whip, and suspended his membership with immediate effect.
Speaking on GB News, Tom asked Ms Dorris: “Nadine, thanks so much for being with us today. Did you see this coming?”
The ex-Tory, who defected to Reform UK last year, responded: “Yes.”
Visibly shocked at the abrupt response, Tom said: “I’m stunned, actually, that a politician has answered a question so directly it never happens. Nadine, are you happy that this has happened?”
Ms Dorries: “Well, what’s happened is that Kemi Badenoch has sacked Robert Jenrick. It’s bizarre, actually.
“She’s acting a bit like a wife who’s discovered her husband is having an affair and has thrown his clothes out onto the driveway.
“She’s taken the least worst option out of a series of bad options. Maybe she feels she’s now playing from a position of strength within the party.
Tom Harwood was left stunned at the blunt verdict
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GB NEWS
“I’m not sure that’s the case. I think it’s playing to weakness. It shows she’s been frightened about another defection.”
“She really needs to be careful because, come May, Robert Jenrick may not be the only person talking to Reform.
“I think what she’s trying to do is send out a warning shot to others: if you talk to Reform, this is what will happen to you. I’m not sure how much impact that will actually have.”
Tom explained: “This is such an interesting day in politics because over the past few weeks we’ve seen some polls suggesting Reform has dipped slightly, while the Conservatives have edged up. Why do you think this is happening now, and where do you see the polls going?”
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch sacked Robert Jenrick from the Shadow Cabinet and suspended him from the party following allegations of a secret plot to defect to Reform UK | ROBERT JENRICK
Ms Dorries responded: “The polling increase you’re referring to for the Conservatives between half a per cent and one per cent in some polls is well within the margin of error.
“What we see with Reform is a sustained poll lead over many months, across all pollsters.
“There’s been excitement around what some have described as a ‘Kemi bounce’, but I just don’t believe it’s there.
“If in three, four, five or six months’ time we see a solid improvement in Conservative polling, then I’d accept that.
“But you’re talking about three weeks for the Conservatives, compared with 18 months for Reform you simply can’t compare the two.
“Reform’s polling does fluctuate, but it fluctuates upwards.
“We’re heading into the local elections in May and Nigel Farage hasn’t even hit the campaign trail yet. When he does, you’ll see the impact.
“Reform’s polling will almost certainly rise, while both the Conservatives and Labour will fall.
“So while it makes a good story, I don’t think one or two polls showing a marginal uptick for Kemi Badenoch is anything worth hanging your hat on just yet.
“I’d need to see sustained improvement over a much longer period.”
Mrs Badenoch announced the dramatic decision on social media, stating she had been presented with “clear, irrefutable evidence” that Mr Jenrick was secretly planning to join Reform UK.
The Conservative leader accused her former Shadow Cabinet colleague of orchestrating his departure “in a way designed to be as damaging as possible to his shadow cabinet colleagues and the wider Conservative Party.”