Reform UK’s Robert Jenrick has responded to accusations from his former boss, Kemi Badenoch, asserting that he misrepresented a conversation with a senior Conservative member. The dispute erupted following Jenrick’s recent defection to Reform after being dismissed by Badenoch from her front bench.
In a broadcast interview with GB News, Jenrick disclosed that he received a text message from a Conservative colleague in March 2024, which stated he had a “special place in hell.” This message reportedly followed his publication of an opinion piece advocating for a reallocation of foreign aid towards defense spending.
Badenoch, who now leads the Conservative Party, countered Jenrick’s claims during a subsequent appearance on the same channel, suggesting he had fabricated the exchange. In response, Jenrick took to the social media platform X, sharing a screenshot purportedly from Rebecca Harris, the Conservative chief whip. The image included a message that echoed his assertion, stating, “You have a really special place in hell.”
The screenshot also contained messages labeling Jenrick as a “bloodsucker” and a “user,” while advising him and former home secretary Suella Braverman to resign from the Conservative Party. However, it appears the context of these messages involved Harris sharing “feedback” from party members who disagreed with Jenrick’s views. One of the earlier messages read: “This is actual feedback/leave the party and be a commentator.”
The date of this exchange remains unspecified. Jenrick, in his social media post, maintained that the Conservative Party continues to mislead the public, stating, “They still won’t tell the truth.”
A spokesperson from Reform commented on the situation, claiming, “The Tories lied to you in office and Kemi and her team have been caught red-handed lying to the public again.” The source suggested that senior Conservative MPs viewed funding for armed forces as less critical than foreign aid, asserting that the party cannot be trusted to serve the British people effectively.
In contrast, a Conservative source defended Badenoch, stating that Jenrick was “lying again and misrepresenting an exchange he had over two years ago.” This source emphasized that the messages had no connection to foreign aid discussions, but rather illustrated a government whip attempting to reason with someone who had contributed to internal divisions within the party. They added, “With his love of backstabbing and psychodrama, Jenrick will fit right in with Reform.”
As the rift between Jenrick and the Conservative Party deepens, the implications of this dispute could influence both parties’ standing within the political landscape as they approach future elections.
