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Kemi Badenoch has dismissed allegations of a divide between herself and shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick regarding the Conservative Party’s stance on forming an alliance with Reform UK.
The Conservative leader has consistently rejected the notion of an electoral agreement with Reform UK, asserting that Nigel Farage’s party is intent on undermining the Tories.
In a recently leaked recording acquired by Sky News, Jenrick expressed his desire for a united front against Labour in the upcoming general election and his commitment to “bring this coalition together.”
The remarks prompted reactions from Labour and the Liberal Democrats, who called on Badenoch to remove Jenrick from the frontbench for his apparent contradiction of her stance. However, a spokesperson for Badenoch emphasized that there is no disagreement between the two.
“Kemi Badenoch has made it clear that there will be absolutely no electoral arrangement with Reform,” the spokesperson stated. “If you examine Jenrick’s words, he is asserting that he aims to defeat Reform. The coalition he envisions involves rallying centre-right voters,” the spokesperson elaborated during a press briefing.
When queried about Badenoch’s view of Jenrick as a “team player,” the spokesperson affirmed, “Yes, the shadow cabinet operates as a cohesive unit.”
The spokesperson also clarified that Badenoch was unaware of Jenrick’s comments prior to their publication by Sky, but acknowledged that it is “evidently true” that the right is not unified, and it is crucial for the Conservatives to win back a significant voter base from Reform UK.
Addressing suggestions that Badenoch should control Jenrick’s statements that exceed his shadow ministerial roles, the spokesperson remarked, “It is acceptable for shadow cabinet members and MPs to discuss issues pertinent to the advancement of the Conservative Party.”
Badenoch maintained a calm demeanor when questioned by the BBC about whether Jenrick was undermining her leadership. “No, not at all,” she affirmed, recognizing the need for the party to recover votes that had shifted to Reform, as well as to the Liberal Democrats and Labour.
She emphasized that the party must present a “visibly centre-right, authentic Conservative offer” to attract these voters back.
In response, Nigel Farage dismissed Jenrick’s call for a coalition of right-leaning parties, stating that it would not occur due to a lack of trust in the Conservatives.
‘Plotting away’
Earlier during Prime Minister’s Questions, Badenoch criticized Sir Keir Starmer for his hesitance to clearly articulate his views on transgender issues. The Prime Minister retorted that no Conservative MPs believed Badenoch would lead the party into the next general election.
He also noted that Jenrick, who was not present in Parliament, was “away plotting” and would ultimately be left “fighting over the bones of the Tory party” alongside Farage, whom he warned would “consume the Tory party for breakfast.”
The contentious recording from a local Tory event in March revealed Jenrick’s concerns about Reform UK complicating matters for his own party. He candidly stated, “As we approach a general election, the worst-case scenario is that Keir Starmer capitalizes on a divided opposition. I refuse to let that happen.”
He conveyed his aspiration for a unified front, saying, “I am determined to unite this coalition and ensure we come together as a nation.”
A source close to Jenrick communicated to PA Media that he holds no discrepancies with Badenoch’s stance on excluding an agreement with Reform. “Rob’s remarks focus on voters, not political parties. He recognizes the necessity to eliminate Reform as a viable option and re-establish the Conservatives as the primary choice for right-leaning voters, aiming to recreate the coalition we had in 2019,” the source elaborated. “However, there is no illusion regarding the challenge ahead; we need to demonstrate over time that we have changed and can be trusted again.”
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