Kemi Badenoch Sacks Robert Jenrick for Plotting to Defect

Kemi Badenoch has sacked Robert Jenrick after accusing him of plotting to defect, saying she has seen “clear, irrefutable evidence that he was plotting in secret to defect in a way designed to be as damaging as possible to the Conservative Party”. The Telegraph has the story.

The Tory leader said she had been presented with “clear, irrefutable evidence” that he was plotting to leave the Conservatives in a way designed to damage the party.

She said she had sacked him as shadow justice secretary and suspended his party membership.

Mrs 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.”

Nigel Farage claimed Kemi has “added up two and two and made five”:

“It sounds to me like she’s panicked because as you know I am doing a press conference in London this afternoon at about 4.30, obviously we had the Nadhim Zahawi defection just the other day,” Mr Farage said.

“We had the Offord defection just a few days before that, there’s been quite a long list of former Conservative MPs that have joined us. … She’s aware that there is that move and so I suspect she’s panicked.

“I suspect she’s added up two and two and made five. I can confirm hand on heart honestly look you in the eye, I was not going to be unveiling Robert Jenrick at 4.30 this afternoon.”

He added: “Is he one of many that I’ve talked to about what the future might look like? Absolutely. Have I signed a deal with him? No.”

The Telegraph‘s Tony Diver says sources confirm Kemi’s account:

Robert Jenrick was sacked because evidence of an “imminent” defection had made its way back to Kemi Badenoch, sources have told the Telegraph.

The Tories compiled a bundle of evidence that included a dinner between Jenrick and Nigel Farage last month, and the fact that he had discussed defecting to Reform with at least two allies.

Those conversations had been repeated back to Badenoch’s team in Conservative Campaign Headquarters.

“We’d known for a while that he was starting to get closer to Reform,” a senior party source said. “He had dinner with Nigel last month, he’d discussed defecting with allies and that had got back to CCHQ”.

Finally, Jenrick’s team “left some stuff lying around” that gave the Tories “irrefutable” evidence that he was planning to defect to Reform before the local elections, the source said. They declined to comment on what the evidence was, arguing that it could put the party’s informant at risk.

“Kemi doesn’t overreact to things, and she thinks hard before taking a decision,” they added. “The last thing she wants is a shadow cabinet defection, and it was clear it was going to be timed for the maximum possible pain.”

“The evidence was completely irrefutable. There is no doubt.”

Follow the Telegraph‘s live coverage here.

Here’s Kemi’s statement in full:

This morning, I removed the Conservative whip from Robert Jenrick after dismissing him from the Shadow Cabinet. I was very sorry to be presented with clear, irrefutable evidence, not just that he was preparing to defect, but he was planning to do so the most damaging way possible to the Conservative Party and his Shadow Cabinet colleagues.

It is my responsibility to protect our party, and faced with that information, I took the only decision that any responsible leader could, because the British public are tired of political psychodrama. So am I. They saw too much of it in the last government.

They’ve seen too much of it in this Government. I will not repeat those mistakes. 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.

Conservatives 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 that 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 that at a time of global uncertainty I am focused on holding the Government to account, ensuring they are acting in the national interest, and that Conservatives deliver a proper plan for a stronger economy, stronger borders and a stronger Britain.

Stop Press: According to the Mail, Jenrick is alleged to “have left the text of a near-completed resignation speech and a ‘media plan’ lying around where it could be discovered – although when challenged by the Tory Chief Whip Rebecca Harris in a phone call this morning he apparently protested his innocence”. Meanwhile, Nick Timothy has been given Jenrick’s justice brief.