Reform’s Danny Kruger has encouraged the Tory leader and her MPs to “get behind Nigel Farage” after Robert Jenrick’s shock defection.
Mr Kruger was elected as Conservative MP but defected to Reform UK in September 2025. He told GB News: “I have great sympathy with Kemi and with the colleagues that we both left behind. But I’m afraid they should do the same thing. They need to recognise that the Conservative Party cannot deliver conservatism. It cannot deliver the sort of change that we on the right of politics or believe in. Nigel Farage can.”
“It’s painful to leave one tribe that you’ve worked with for many years and join another. But you do have to, in this game, try and think what we’re really here for, which is to serve our constituents in the country. And when you’ve concluded that the group you’re with cannot do that through a combination of historic faults and the current inability to connect with the country, then the only thing to do if there is a is an alternative is to move to that new party, which Robert and I have both done.”
The defection came just hours after Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch dismissed Mr Jenrick from his position as Shadow Justice Secretary, simultaneously removing the party whip and suspending his membership.
Mrs Badenoch told GB News: “People from Reform and other Conservative party members have been bringing stuff to me about the ways he’d been undermining the party, and I kept giving him a chance. So I’m just glad that Nigel Farage is doing my spring cleaning for me. He’s taking away my problems. The Conservative Party is even more united and stronger, because we’ve lost someone who was not a team player.”
“It’s quite clear that Robert Jenrick tells a lot of lies, and you can’t believe a word that comes out of his mouth. This is a man who was asked yesterday morning if he was going to defect. And he said, never. But we found evidence of speeches he was going to give.”
“He is leaving because he doesn’t think that he can be leader. As the actual leader, the person who beat him decisively in the leadership election, my duty is to the Conservative Party members, to our MPs, to our shadow cabinet, and make sure that they’re looked after.”
Writing for GB News, Mr Jenrick echoed Danny Kruger: “”For too long, politicians have papered over the cracks. They’ve pretended things are fine when they’re not. The truth is that Britain is broken. And both the Conservatives and Labour broke it. I don’t say that lightly. But it’s the truth.”
“Nigel Farage, meanwhile, has stood – consistently, and often alone – for what’s needed. Ending mass migration, cheap energy, cutting waste, taxes and red tape. When the first boats started crossing, he was in the Channel saying it was outrageous. They laughed at him, but they’re not laughing now. Nigel has the conviction of his principles and is building the team to deliver real change. So I am proud to be Reform’s 270,000th member. If you’re not already on board, join the movement. The future of the country is on the line.”