Overview
- Kemi Badenoch dismissed the shadow justice secretary, removed the whip and suspended his membership after being shown what her party described as extracts from a draft defection speech and media plan.
- Hours later Nigel Farage presented Jenrick at a Westminster press conference, welcomed him to Reform and argued the sacking jumped the gun on timing.
- Jenrick attacked both main parties over migration, court backlogs, prisons and defence, and said he would not resign his Newark seat to force a by-election.
- Conservative sources said a member of Jenrick’s team leaked the draft plan used as evidence, while the party named Nick Timothy as his replacement in the shadow justice role.
- The move adds to Reform’s recent high‑profile recruits, including Nadhim Zahawi and Danny Kruger, sharpening pressure on Conservative unity ahead of May’s local and devolved elections.