Kemi Badenoch denies claims of rift with Robert Jenrick over Reform feedback | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Kemi Badenoch has rejected claims of a rift with Robert Jenrick over whether or not the Tories ought to strike a cope with Reform UK. The Conservative chief has publicly dominated out a pact with Nigel Farage’s rebel get together.

But in a leaked recording, the Shadow Justice Secretary vowed to deliver collectively a “coalition” of Reform and Conservative voters to tackle Labour. Mr Jenrick will be heard saying that he desires the “fight” towards Sir Keir Starmer’s get together to be “united”.

A supply near Mr Jenrick has mentioned his feedback had been “about voters and never events”.

Mrs Badenoch’s official spokesman mentioned: “Kemi Badenoch has made perfectly clear there will be absolutely no electoral pact with Reform.

“If you actually read the Shadow Justice Secretary’s words, he is saying he is working to defeat Reform.

“The coalition he’s talking about is of centre-Right voters and bringing them together.”

Mrs Badenoch was not aware of Mr Jenrick’s comments ahead of them being obtained by Sky, but the spokesman said it is “demonstrably true” that the Right will not be “united”, because the Newark MP recommended.

In the recording obtained by Sky News, Mr Jenrick mentioned if Reform turned a “permanent or semi-permanent fixture on the British political scene”, then “life becomes a lot harder” for the Tories.

Speaking to the UCL Conservative Association in March, Mr Jenrick mentioned: “You head towards a general election, where the nightmare scenario is that Keir Starmer sails in through the middle as a result of the two parties being disunited.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m not prepared for that to happen.”

Mr Jenrick added: “I would like the struggle to be united. And so, a method or one other, I’m decided to do this and convey this coalition collectively and ensure we unite as a nation as nicely.”

A source close to Mr Jenrick said on Wednesday: “Rob’s comments are about voters and not parties.

“He’s clear we have to put Reform out of business and make the Conservatives the natural home for all those on the Right, rebuilding the coalition of voters we had in 2019 and can have again.

“But he’s under no illusions how difficult that is – we have to prove over time we’ve changed and can be trusted again.”

The Tory chief had been going through calls from opposition to sack the Shadow Justice Secretary over the remarks.