Robert Jenrick attempted to obtain confidential candidate application information belonging to Zia Yusuf six months before defecting to Reform UK, leaked communications have revealed.
The messages show Reform’s current economic spokesman requesting details from a senior Conservative figure about Mr Yusuf’s Tory candidacy application.
Mr Jenrick joined Nigel Farage’s party in January, leaving his former post as Shadow Justice Secretary.
“Hi. Do we have any information on Zia? Did he apply to be a candidate? Do we have his candidate application form? We should destroy him. Rob,” the former Tory wrote before his defection.
The exchange occurred during a bitter dispute over antisemitism, after Mr Yusuf’s X account liked a post containing antisemitic content directed at Jenrick’s wife.
“I think gloves are off now. It’s dog-eat-dog with him!” Jenrick added in the messages.
Mr Yusuf, Reform’s Home Affairs spokesman, maintained that a team member who had access to his account had “accidentally” liked the offending post.
However, Mr Jenrick rubbished this explanation as “b******t.”
Robert Jenrick tried to ‘destroy’ Zia Yusuf just months before defecting to Reform, leaked messaged have revealed
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The then Shadow Justice Secretary demanded that Mr Yusuf be given “the boot” from Nigel Farage’s party over the incident.
Mr Jenrick’s team have categorically denied any claims that they were conducting an investigation into Mr Yusuf despite the leaked communications, which have been seen by The Times.
Mr Jenrick was also keen to put those notions to bed while speaking with GB News over the weekend.
“Look, we are a strong team,” he stressed to The People’s Channel.
Mr Jenrick was keen to put rumours of rifts to bed while speaking with GB News
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“I actually think if you look at the team that Nigel has put together and compare it to the present cabinet, people would say, well, these are people with experience of Government.
“And in Richard and Zia’s cases, people who are hugely successful businessmen who’ve made millions of pounds.
“If you compare it to the Conservatives, most people couldn’t even name the people in those positions.”
Even still, a Conservative Party source described Mr Jenrick and his team as “completely obsessed” with undermining the Reform home affairs spokesman, revealing they habitually referred to him as “Zia Useless.”
The source alleged to the Times: “Jenrick was incandescent about Zia labelling him as a traitor to Britain and ridiculing his record on immigration.
Mr Jenrick joined Nigel Farage’s party in January, leaving his former post as Shadow Justice Secretary
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“Rob only ever referred to him as Zia Useless.
“Zia should watch his back, he’ll be first out of the door when Rob takes over from Nigel.”
Mr Jenrick himself deployed the nickname during a public spat on X last summer, asking Mr Yusuf: “But enough about me. Why do your own colleagues call you Zia Useless?”
The former immigration minister held government positions under four Conservative prime ministers between 2018 and 2023 before his departure from the party.