Robert Jenrick was ejected from the Conservatives before he defected

Kemi Badenoch's team removed Robert Jenrick from the Conservative parliamentary party after receiving screenshots they said showed his planned resignation speech and media plan; he later appeared at a Reform UK event to announce his defection.

Four days before Robert Jenrick was removed from the Conservative parliamentary party, he had spoken at length with party leader Kemi Badenoch and attended a shadow cabinet awayday. The following day, members of Badenoch's team received screenshots they reported as Jenrick's resignation speech and its media plan, which prompted urgent action from her office. Badenoch asked her chief whip to contact Jenrick and then recorded a video announcing his dismissal, timed to coincide with a Reform UK press appearance by Nigel Farage. Jenrick subsequently appeared at Reform's event and delivered a speech about his reasons for leaving the Conservatives. Key developments: - Senior figures in Badenoch's office were sent screenshots that they said contained Jenrick's full resignation speech and accompanying media plan, which criticised senior Conservatives and referenced Nigel Farage. - Badenoch's team concluded they needed to act quickly; her chief whip, Rebecca Harris, phoned Jenrick and Badenoch released a video to party members announcing his removal. - The timing of Badenoch's announcement was coordinated to overlap with a Reform UK press conference where Farage was due to speak. - Nigel Farage announced Jenrick as a high-profile defection at the Reform event; Jenrick later arrived and addressed attendees, criticising his former party in his remarks. - The episode drew strong reactions within the Conservative party and attention to Jenrick's recent standing; the article also reports a minor delay when Jenrick got lost in Millbank Tower before the Reform event. Summary: Badenoch's team acted after receiving material they said showed Jenrick's planned resignation, and she removed him from the parliamentary party before his public announcement. Jenrick then appeared at a Reform UK press event to declare his departure from the Conservatives. Undetermined at this time.