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 ever” from Nigel Farage’s party.
The leaked plan references the defection of former Tory chancellor Nadhim Zahawi on Monday, suggesting it was drawn up in the recent past.
Jenrick has admitted he was “determined” to switch to Reform before Kemi Badenoch fired him.
The Tory leader sacked Jenrick as shadow justice secretary and suspended him from his party on Thursday, accusing him of plotting to jump ship.
It is believed that they initiated their pre-emptive action after Jenrick’s draft of his resignation speech and this memorandum were handed over to his team.
It referred to the Newark MP as “the biggest defection story correction ever” and “the new sheriff in town”, as reported by the Mail on Sunday and the Sunday Times.
It appears that Jenrick has underlined the words “Here to support Nigel”.
A source close to Jenrick said he had no involvement in the drafting of the document.
A spokesman for Jenrick said: “As the document makes clear, Rob is simply a member of Nigel’s team and wants to help bring him in as Prime Minister.
“And this is a team that, unlike the Tories, wants to change Britain rather than pretend it’s not broken.”
Jenrick continues to attack his former party.
“It has almost become a party for the posh,” the Newark MP told The Sun on Sunday.
“They are very out of touch with the people I grew up around in Wolverhampton and represent North Nottinghamshire.”
He added: “The divide in British politics has become the Reform Workers’ Party versus the Tory posh party.”
Badenoch, meanwhile, said his former frontbencher was a right-wing “pastiche”.
She told the Telegraph, “I know what I believe. I know what I stand for. Robert has a habit of taking what he thinks is the right wing and then he shows up for it. It’s always been about his personal ambition.”
The opposition leader has ruled out any future right-wing compromise with Reform.
Jenrick has said that his move was to “unite the right people” in Farage’s party.
Badenoch said that the right was “not a single, homogeneous block”.
He said: “Many people on the right actively dislike reform. Attempting to ‘unite’ risks losing as many voters as it gains.
“Reforms aren’t interested in fixing the country; they’re interested in disruption. That’s not what we’re offering, and I don’t want voters to think that’s what we’re doing.”
Reform has said May 7 will be the cut-off point for admitting Conservative defectors.
Faraz said this would be the “last day” for current and former MPs as well as local councilors to defect.
“Those who attend should be firm in their conviction that the established political parties have broken Britain,” he wrote in the Telegraph.
He said: “It’s like biding your time, and if it sounds like an ultimatum, it is.”
Asked whether she would be on high alert for MPs potentially trying to switch sides before May 7, when crucial local elections are held, Badenoch said: “I think people will be wondering why they set that deadline.
“Maybe they are worried that they won’t find anyone now.
“But honestly, it’s a distraction from the serious things that are happening in the country right now.
“Reformers love to talk about defection and themselves and about elections. We are talking about the country and what matters to you.”
He told broadcasters it had been an “interesting week” and indicated he was willing to expel disloyal conservatives from the party.
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