Tory defectors will dilute Reform's rebellious appeal

Did Kemi Badenoch have any choice but to sack Robert Jenrick? No, she did not.

- EMILY SHEFFIELD

In politics, you begin to look weak if you do not dispatch the openly disloyal. But how to do it? Fortunately, in the end, Jenrick made it easy by plotting to defect publicly to Reform. And when she moved, she did so decisively and deliberately brutally, catching her justice secretary offside and puncturing the carefully laid plans of Nigel Farage.

Her actions were quickly vindicated by Jenrick's speech that afternoon, as he disparaged the party he had never stopped campaigning to lead right until the moment he stuck the knife in. To coin a phrase of another, it reeked of “moral cowardice” and opportunism of the worst sort, and I found his defection thoroughly depressing. Having been caught out, the timing was skewed for Jenrick. It comes in a week of stalling polls for Reform and a badly played defection by Nadhim Zahawi, hoisted on the petard of his peerage pleas, which left his speech sounding hollow.

What's not yet clear is who will emerge as the winners from this latest Westminster drama. Certainly not politicians as a collective whole. With every defection, and more Labour leadership warfare, the electorate wince in distaste. As Badenoch recognises, the public are tired of the psychodrama.

Badenoch will gain personal kudos for acting swiftly. But a talented serving member of her shadow cabinet has quit. And there have been multiple defections.