Political difference must come second to country's future

NIGEL

- Sam Lister Deputy Editor

Farage celebrated Robert Jenrick's defection to Reform with a glass of champagne and declared it was the moment that marked the “realignment of the Right”.But was the spectacular day of high drama the point that Reform sealed the deal or the formation of a circular firing squad that only benefits the Left?

Each of the main players — Farage, Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch — has taken a massive gamble. Although speculation about Jenrick’s intentions has been intense ever since he lost the Conservative leadership contest to Badenoch, the way his departure unfolded left Westminster stunned. No one had got wind of his intention to jump ship, apart from, it seems, one of his team, who alerted the Tory leader.

Instead of dealing with it behind the scenes, Badenoch revealed she had sacked him in a video posted on social media that is one of possibly the most brutal firings in modern politics - and the bar for that is already set incredibly high.

It was a shock and awe move that showed would-be defectors that their leader is ruthless and has chutzpah.

It also sends out a message to voters that Badenoch is trying to move the party on from its infighting days.