‘Enough already’: Jenrick’s defection gets mixed reception from Reform members | Reform UK

Robert Jenrick’s defection to Reform UK has been met with a mixed reaction from the party’s membership, ranging from enthusiasm to concern that the group is attracting too many former Conservative politicians.

Mixed Reactions to Jenrick’s Move

Some Reform UK members expressed unhappiness with the influx of Tories, with one member stating, “Enough already! Reform uk please take note, you are going to lose members and voters if you don’t cap this craziness … We don’t want a Tory party Pt II.” Another member said they would leave the party if Jenrick joined, commenting, “Don’t do it, Nigel. If Jenrick joins Reform I’m done I am a member of the party but will leave immediately.”

However, the majority of members appeared to welcome the addition of Jenrick, viewing him as a seasoned politician. “We always wanted Jenrick in the Reform party. He’s a seasoned veteran of parliament,” one member wrote on a private Facebook forum.

Paul Rayner posted on a public group celebrating Nigel Farage, stating, “Fantastic news !! I am losing count of how many potential great future leaders are now in Reform.”

Speculation about Jenrick potentially joining Reform UK had been a frequent topic of discussion among members, at meetings, and in informal settings.

While some members were surprised by the announcement, particularly given previous ridicule of Jenrick by Farage as “Robert Generic,” others saw his experience as a positive asset. Rory Green, a Reform member of Nottinghamshire county council, said, “He is a [lawyer] and has been on cabinet nationally so that’s positive.”

Maxwell Harrison, a senior member of Reform’s Kent county council, delivered a speech in the style of Farage on Facebook, calling Jenrick’s arrival “a massive moment in our movement’s history.”

Internal Tensions

Zia Yusuf, Reform’s head of policy, previously expressed concern about former Tory MPs joining the party, stating that Reform grassroots members would be prioritized in candidate selection over “failed former Tory MPs.”

Jenrick and Farage addressed previous criticisms of each other, while tensions between Jenrick and Yusuf may prove more difficult to resolve. Jenrick had previously accused Yusuf of deliberately liking a social media post attacking him and his family.

Farage acknowledged the potential issue, stating, “I’m teaching him forgiveness.”