Kemi Badenoch denies claims of rift with Robert Jenrick over Reform comments (2025)

Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick contested last year's Tory leadership race (Image: PA)

Kemi Badenoch has rejected claims of a rift with Robert Jenrick over whether the Tories should strike a deal with Reform UK. The Conservative leader has publicly ruled out a pact with NigelFarage’s insurgent party.

But in a leaked recording, the Shadow Justice Secretary vowed to bring together a “coalition” of Reform and Conservative voters to take on Labour. Mr Jenrick can be heard saying that he wants the “fight” against Sir KeirStarmer’s party to be “united”.

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A source close to Mr Jenrick has said his comments were "about voters and not parties”.

Mrs Badenoch’s official spokesman said: “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 is not “united”, as the Newark MP suggested.

In the recording obtained by Sky News, Mr Jenrick said if Reform became 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 said: “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 want the fight to be united. And so, one way or another, I’m determined to do that and bring this coalition together and make sure we unite as a nation as well."

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 leader had been facing calls from opposition to sack the Shadow Justice Secretary over the remarks.