Robert Jenrick has been sacked

😁

foxie48

Another who thinks that MPs who defect to another party should stand for re-election. Tbh if my MP defected to Reform I'd be absolutely furious!

Agreed foxie, Casdon and GrannyGravy.

If my MP, for whom I voted, defected to another party (particularly Reform) I would also be furious. I’d be making my view known to him!

Any defection, regardless of party, should initiate a by election - no question!

Casdon

No, I don’t think it is DaisyAnneReturns. There are individuals in all parties who are out for themselves, and won’t hesitate to sell their former colleagues down the river. I agree with what eazybee said earlier on the thread about a by election being required when MPs defect part way through a parliamentary term. If that happened it would sort the men from the boys when it came to commitment to their new party.

I want to believe this and, of course it must be true. A Party isn't a homogeneous mass; it is made up of individuals. It would be interesting to work out why we don't see the person who just gets on and does a good job although that might take us back to a discussion about the press.

I agree that this should trigger a by-election; I can't imagine a more entitled stance than to believe people voted for you personally (although they may have done). Politicians stand on a platform; if they change that they should let the people review what they want.

foxie48

It is clear from the last general election results that the voters in Newark did not want a Reform MP.

Robert Jenrick

votes 20,968
share 39.2%
share change -23.9

Labour, Saj Ahmad

votes 17,396
share 32.5%
share change +8.6

Reform UK, Robert Palmer

votes 8,280
share 15.5%
share change +15.2

I do think he should resign and stand for re-election.
He is not representing his constituents any more.

Of course, he could be re-elected if he is popular enough but the people of Newark are the ones to decide.

“Robert Jenrick, who was appointed Housing Secretary by Robert Jenrick in 2019, is to run for Tory party leader.

During his time as Housing Secretary he was no stranger to controversy.

RentGuarantor
Letwise

Tenancy Deposit Scheme
In 2020 The Sunday Times reported Jenrick had claimed expenses of over £100,000 for “a third home” in his constituency of Newark; in the same year the Public Accounts Committee claimed that Jenrick’s constituency had been awarded funding by his department as part of a process that was opaque and not impartial.

Also in 2020, during the early stages of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Daily Mail claimed Jenrick had flouted government restrictions by travelling 150 miles from London to a second home in Herefordshire where he was staying with his family, and then by travelling 40 miles to see his parents.

During his tenure at Housing there were also various sleaze allegations against Jenrick, with the biggest controversy concerning a planning decision made, against the advice of planning officers, for a £2 billion, 500-apartment London housing scheme led by media tycoon Richard Desmond. The move was subsequently ruled as unlawful.

In September 2021 Jenrick was sacked by Boris Johnson.

The following year he became the first MP to take in Ukrainian refugees under the government’s settlement scheme. The government launched the Homes For Ukraine scheme for British homeowners to apply to host Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion.

Jenrick’s campaign manager for the upcoming Tory leadership election – MP Danny Kruger – says: “To have any path back to government we must win back those voters we have lost – across the board but particularly to Reform. At the same time, we have to bring our party together, united behind one set of coherent Conservative principles.

“The British people need to be convinced that we are the most responsible and competent party of government for us to have any chance of winning in 2029, especially when we know Labour are set to fail on so many important issues for our country.

“Rob Jenrick will do that. He has the energy, temperament and policy agenda to take on our rivals and lead us back to power in five years.”
An old article but it’s reminded me of some of Jenrick’s misdemeanours. Also interesting that he and Kruger are now in Reform. (And that Zahawi once called Farage a racist but that should be on the Farage thread).
How anyone can think these people are fit to govern this country is beyond me. He’ll also be vying for party leadership. They’ll be like rats in a sack.

It is clear from the last general election results that the voters in Newark did not want a Reform MP.

Robert Jenrick

votes 20,968
share 39.2%
share change -23.9

Labour, Saj Ahmad

votes 17,396
share 32.5%
share change +8.6

Reform UK, Robert Palmer

votes 8,280
share 15.5%
share change +15.2

Another who thinks that MPs who defect to another party should stand for re-election. Tbh if my MP defected to Reform I'd be absolutely furious!

Message deleted by Gransnet. Quotes a delted post.

Casdon I agree 👏👏👏

No, I don’t think it is DaisyAnneReturns. There are individuals in all parties who are out for themselves, and won’t hesitate to sell their former colleagues down the river. I agree with what eazybee said earlier on the thread about a by election being required when MPs defect part way through a parliamentary term. If that happened it would sort the men from the boys when it came to commitment to their new party.

Isn't that standard Tory politics? I don't ever see, in the past its been a little less extreme but only a little, a party that is there for all.

Freya5

friendlygingercat

He was Kemi's main rival and now he has gone. I didnt think much of her when she was elected (lifelong Tory that I am but always to the right) but she has come up in my estimation lately.

There is the crux of the matter . A rival. Where is the proof of his perfidious, if it was such, behaviour. Or did she oust him because.
Shame Starmer is not so quick on the ball though.

The proof includes irrefutable evidence as in extracts of a draft defection speech found on a printer detailing his criticism of the Tories and praise for Reform. He was plotting a damaging exit so Kemi sacked him.

I think the way we mix up the three types of conversation is why some people feel so uncomfortable. I discuss things with my friends all the time but we have never once had a debate. However my AC's do debate (kindly) and that stretches me to firm up the facts behind the views I am forming. To me, it's how I learn.

If you want to explore ideas without having to defend them, join a discussion. In a discussion, views can be tentative and evolving, and references may be offered to explain or illuminate a point, not to “win” an argument.

If you want to defend a position with facts, a debate is for you.

But how do you make them identifiable on a GN thread. It would really need to be stated in the OP. Some people's views are immutable - I can't see how that can lead to discussion.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Galaxy

It isnt as simple as that. There are numerous subjects where it is a question of opinion, take abortion, there are very strong views on either side of that debate, there isnt one truth on that subject, there are opinions. Obviously many statements on issues can be challenged, if someone says the eath is flat you can show that is not true, if someone says I think the housing crisis is one of the most significant issues for young people then you could debate that opinion, there wouldn't be an absolute truth there but rather a range of views.

I'm not sure if you were trying, to reply to my comment Galaxy, in your post in your post Fri 16-Jan-26 07:39:14?

My point isn’t about whether a topic has an objective truth, but about how people approach the conversation.

Perhaps you could clarify.

I agree with foxie48.

Jenrick may be welcomed by Farage but how long will that last?

Jenrick is very ambitious but Farage will insist on remaining the Leader and I don't see Jenrick playing second fiddle to anyone. He also did some dishonest dealings over a planning application when he was Housing Minister, showing he cannot be trusted.

The Reform Party, IMHO, have already shown that some of their ideas are unworkable and are relying on the immigration issue to win the next General Election.

They may well succeed if things don't improve, but we need to see what their policies are on the NHS (eg will they shrink it and make private medicine the first option?) and other areas people care deeply about.

And to be saddled with a load of Tory has-beens might not be such a "gift" after all. I expect Suella Braverman will join them next, and if Kate Hoey (a fanatical pro-Brexiteer) is the Labour politician referred to as joining them next week she will be no great loss to the Labour Party.

TBH I don't think Trump is doing Farage/Reform any favours. Farage has been seen and heard to be a fan of the odious Trump and Trump's behaviour is certainly not winning him much applause in the UK. I'd be interested to hear what Reform's international policies are and the extent to which they align with Trump's vision of the world!

Polling data shows support for Reform decreasing among the 65+ demographic which strongly supported the party in 2024.

Among 25-49s they are polling the same as the Greens on 19% and 18-24 only 10%. Younger people don’t like Reform.

Gaining defectors of dubious character such as Zahawi and Jenrick is more likely to repel than attract moderate people.

In the weekly You Gov polling which asks - If there were a general election held tomorrow, which party would you vote for? Reform are polling at only 10% among the 18-24s; 19% among 25-49s (equal with the Greens); 32% among 50-64s and 29% among 65+.

The latter is down 6 points compared to before Christmas with a corresponding bump up for the Tories. Similar is happening with the 50-64s albeit a smaller bump, but support for Reform down, Tories up.

As these were the two groups which most strongly supported Reform in 2024 are we starting to see a move back to the Tories now that the most controversial ones are jumping ship?

Labour is still slightly ahead of Reform overall.

If we had an election tomorrow we’d probably have a hung Parliament.

I’m interested to see what happens next.

Zia Yusuf has a bad relationship with Jenrick and is known to flounce when things aren't going his way.

Zia Yusuf – Reform’s head of policy and someone with a particularly difficult backstory in terms of his relationship with Jenrick – appeared a month ago to recognise the very real discontent among an unknown chunk of the party.

“I’ve had many messages from Reform grassroots worried about former Tory MPs joining our party. I want to be clear to our Reform grassroots: YOU will be prioritised in candidate selection for our next class of MPs, NOT failed former Tory MPs,” he said.

While Jenrick and Farage batted away journalists who brought up their previous criticism of each other, tensions between Jenrick and Yusuf may be trickier to mend. Calling on Reform to give Yusuf “the boot” last year, Jenrick had accused him of deliberately liking an X post from an anonymous account attacking the then Tory MP for having a Jewish wife and family.

Yusuf had claimed it was liked “accidentally” by one of his team. Nevertheless, he was also a notable absence at the event unveiling Jenrick at Reform HQ on Thursday. Eyebrows were also raised when Farage – apparently half-jokingly – said that Yusuf was particularly resentful towards MPs who had been part of recent successive Tory governments. (Guardian)

I'm keen to see the next few weeks of polling data for the response to "Honest Bob's'" defection.

At least it gives the satirists something to get their teeth into.

Favourite quip from Rory Bremner:

Reform: “Britain is broken. And what we need in our party are people who have frontline experience of breaking it”.

Where is the proof of his perfidious, if it was such, behaviour.

"A source with access to Jenrick's office had handed the Tory leadership a draft of Jenrick's secret defection speech, which included excoriating attacks on shadow cabinet ministers."
BBC

He has been proved to be duplicitous for some time.

friendlygingercat

He was Kemi's main rival and now he has gone. I didnt think much of her when she was elected (lifelong Tory that I am but always to the right) but she has come up in my estimation lately.

There is the crux of the matter . A rival. Where is the proof of his perfidious, if it was such, behaviour. Or did she oust him because.
Shame Starmer is not so quick on the ball though.

I think we are all on the brink - but not the one you might think of. I’m talking about war. We are living in very unsettled and unsettling times and I wish we had some good strong and trustworthy leaders. I can’t see any .

Doodledog

MollyNew

Serves him right, treacherous weasel.

That comment has made me laugh out loud (literally)😂

I'm making no comment on my feelings about Jenrick (I assume they can be surmised), but it tickled me. I don't know what weasels do to be assumed treacherous, but you never hear of a good one, do you?

What, treacherous - me? I'm just a sweet pussy cat.
How dare you compare me to that treacherous snake-in-the-grass Jenrick!

Casdon

We are not by any stretch ‘at the brink’ whatever that means. The UK is going through hard times, as is the rest of the world. Reform, with its ragbag of mavericks and defectors, does not hold any keys to our future success as a country in my opinion, and I think if a few more Tories from the right of the party defect, the centre right will prevail and the Tories will be back in business.

I'm not sure.

It might seem as if the world is on the brink of something at the moment, with us all holding our breath wondering what the next move might be from one of the three most powerful but unpredictable world leaders might be.

It does not feel like a calm, peaceful time to be living in and I do fear for my children and grandchildren.

Primrose53

Doodledog

Primrose was your post in answer to the question of what it is that we are on the brink of? I’m still no wiser. You have listed opinions- some I share, some I don’t and others are too vague to understand (eg ‘his Marxist principles’ doesn’t mean anything). You have not said what or where the brink might be. Brink of what?

How can people debate if we don’t know what is being discussed?

I think you have confused me with someone else Doodledog

I have, sorry. It was eazybee's post I was responding to.

In my defence, I had less than four hours' sleep.

MollyNew

Serves him right, treacherous weasel.

That comment has made me laugh out loud (literally)😂

I'm making no comment on my feelings about Jenrick (I assume they can be surmised), but it tickled me. I don't know what weasels do to be assumed treacherous, but you never hear of a good one, do you?