Name: Conservative Party leader sacks rival after plot to defect to Reform UK
Uploaded: 2026-01-15T17:13:23.604Z
Duration: 1 min
Description: In the past 12 months, the Conservatives have suffered a string of defections to hard-right Reform UK, including some former Cabinet ministers.

In the past 12 months, the Conservatives have suffered a string of defections to hard-right Reform UK, including some former Cabinet ministers.

London

Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK's opposition Conservative Party, has dismissed justice spokesperson Robert Jenrick for allegedly plotting to defect to the Reform UK party. Badenoch also suspended Jenrick's party membership and removed him from the party's parliamentary ranks, citing evidence that his planned defection was intended to harm the party.

While Badenoch did not specify the party Jenrick intended to join, Reform Party leader Nigel Farage confirmed conversations with him. The Conservative Party has experienced several defections to Reform UK over the past year, including former cabinet ministers, as Reform UK is expected to make gains in upcoming elections.

Conservative Party leader sacks rival after 'plot' to defect to Reform UK

The leader of the UK's opposition Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, said on Thursday she had sacked the party's justice person, Robert Jenrick, for apparently plotting to defect to the hard-right Reform UK. Badenoch also ejected Jenrick from the party's ranks in parliament and suspended his party membership. She said in a video statement that there was evidence of Jenrick's planned defection in a way that was designed to be as damaging as possible to the party. Though Badenoch did not specify which party Jenrick was planning to switch to, Nigel Farage, a leader of the Reform Party, said he had had conversations with him. In the past 12 months, the Conservatives have suffered a string of defections to Reform UK, including some former cabinet ministers, most recently former Tory Chancellor of the Exchequer, Nadeem Zahawi. The upstart anti-immigration party is expected to make major breakthroughs in upcoming elections this year, including those in Scotland and Wales.

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