Leaked Jenrick defection plan calls him the new sheriff in town'

"Robert Jenrick's media plan for his defection to Reform reportedly refers to him as the new sheriff in town and the biggest defection story Nigel Farage's party has ever had. The leaked plan references the defection of the former Tory chancellor Nadhim Zahawi on Monday, signalling that it was prepared in recent days. Jenrick has conceded that he was resolved to switch to Reform before Kemi Badenoch fired him."

"The Tory leader dismissed Jenrick as shadow justice secretary and suspended him from her party on Thursday, accusing him of plotting to jump ship. She is thought to have launched her pre-emptive action after a draft of Jenrick's resignation speech and this memo were passed on to her team. It refers to the Newark MP as the the biggest defection story Reform has ever had and the new sheriff in town, the Mail on Sunday and the Sunday Times reported."

"A spokesperson for Jenrick said: As the document makes clear, Rob is just a member of Nigel's team and wants to help get him in as prime minister. And it's a team which, unlike the Tories, wants to change Britain rather than pretend it isn't broken. Jenrick has continued his attacks on his former party. The Newark MP told the Sun on Sunday: It's almost become the party of posh people. They are so out of touch with the people I grew up around."

Robert Jenrick planned a defection to Reform with a media plan that described him as 'the new sheriff in town' and the biggest defection for Nigel Farage's party. The plan referenced Nadhim Zahawi's recent defection and was prepared in recent days. Jenrick conceded he intended to switch before Kemi Badenoch sacked him; Badenoch dismissed and suspended him, accusing him of plotting to jump ship after a draft resignation speech and memo were passed to her team. A source said Jenrick had no part in drafting the memo. A spokesperson said he is a member of Nigel's team aiming to help get him into Downing Street and to change Britain. Jenrick attacked the Conservatives as out of touch and the 'party of posh people', while Badenoch called him a rightwing pastiche and accused him of personal ambition. The opposition leader ruled out any future rightwing pact with Reform.

Read at www.theguardian.com