Leaked memo framed Robert Jenrick as ‘new sheriff’ amid his defection to Reform

A leaked media plan prepared by Robert Jenrick’s aides described the former shadow justice secretary as “the new sheriff in town” and “the most dynamic politician in the Conservative party” as he announced his defection to Reform, according to the document. The six‑page memo, which the Guardian says was obtained by Kemi Badenoch’s office and passed to newspapers, urged Jenrick to present himself as providing “experience and political heft” to Reform and advised on responses to questions he might face.

Allies said the document was not written by him, but extracts reported by the Sunday Times and Mail on Sunday appear to show he had annotated it in his own handwriting. The memo also called the move “the biggest defection story Reform has ever had”. Jenrick, who came second to Badenoch in the contest to succeed Rishi Sunak as Tory leader, announced his move last Thursday; Badenoch said she had sacked him and stripped him of the party whip.

The emergence of the memo came as Zia Yusuf, Reform’s head of policy, hailed the defection after days of silence, saying he had dinner with Jenrick on Thursday and describing him as “clear‑eyed” about Tory failures and likely to help Reform’s prospects. The report said Jenrick had been talking to Nigel Farage for months but that not all Reform members welcomed another former Conservative, arriving days after Nadhim Zahawi.

Key Topics

Politics, Robert Jenrick, Reform Uk, Kemi Badenoch, Nigel Farage, Zia Yusuf