Political reporter Brian Wheeler reported that Kemi Badenoch dismissed rumors of a divide with shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick regarding the formation of an electoral pact with Reform UK. Badenoch has consistently opposed such a pact, asserting that Nigel Farage’s party aims to undermine the Conservatives. In a leaked recording obtained by Sky News, Jenrick expressed his determination to unify the fight against Labour in the upcoming general election and bring the coalition together.
The story was quickly capitalized on by Labour and the Lib Dems, who called on Badenoch to remove Jenrick for contradicting her stance. Despite this, Badenoch’s spokesperson maintained that there were no disagreements between them. The spokesperson clarified that Badenoch explicitly ruled out any alliance with Reform, while Jenrick’s focus was on uniting center-right voters to defeat Reform and bring them together. When questioned about Jenrick’s role as a team player, the spokesperson affirmed that the shadow cabinet operated effectively as a team.
Nigel Farage dismissed Jenrick’s proposal for a right-wing coalition, citing a lack of trust in the Conservatives. At a heated Prime Minister’s Questions session, Badenoch criticized Sir Keir Starmer for his stance on transgender issues, while the PM defended Badenoch’s leadership. Jenrick, who was absent from the chamber, faced accusations of plotting by the PM, who warned of a potential rift within the Tory party. In the leaked recording, Jenrick highlighted the importance of a united fight against Reform and the need to prevent Starmer from seizing the opportunity to win the election.
A source close to Jenrick affirmed that there were no disagreements between him and the party leader over rejecting a pact with Reform. Jenrick’s focus was on appealing to voters on the right and demonstrating that the Conservatives can be a trusted political home for them. Despite the challenges, Jenrick remains committed to rebuilding the coalition of voters and solidifying the party’s position as a viable choice for right-leaning voters
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