Tories mock ‘turncoat’ Jenrick at conference

Published: 07 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Robert Jenrick may no longer have a seat among Conservative MPs, but his departure from the party continues to cast a long shadow over the Conservatives’ annual conference in Birmingham. The former Tory leadership contender, who later defected to Reform UK, has become the subject of jokes, criticism and open political schadenfreude among Conservative members and senior figures gathered for the event.

Jenrick, who unsuccessfully challenged Kemi Badenoch for the Conservative leadership, left the party several months after losing the contest. His move to Reform UK transformed him from a prominent Conservative figure into one of the most frequently cited examples of internal division and political defection within the party.

At this year’s Conservative conference, the lingering resentment towards him has been turned into something considerably more theatrical. A huge satirical tapestry displayed at the heart of the conference venue in Birmingham portrays the political events of the past two years from a distinctly Conservative perspective. Among its many caricatures is a deliberately unflattering depiction of Jenrick, presenting him as a defeated and ultimately banished figure.

The 27-metre-long woven artwork has attracted crowds of Conservative members keen to see how the party has chosen to portray its recent political history. Badenoch is depicted as a triumphant warrior, while Jenrick appears in several scenes designed to ridicule his leadership defeat and subsequent departure.

In one section, the former leadership candidate is shown as a tiny, distressed figure watching supporters celebrate Badenoch’s victory. Another scene carries the dramatic caption “Expelleth the Turncoat”, showing an enlarged Badenoch apparently banishing her former colleague. Nearby is a photocopier, referencing the reported discovery of Jenrick’s resignation letter.

For Conservative members, the artwork has provided an opportunity to turn a difficult episode in the party’s recent history into political comedy. One attendee described Jenrick as having become little more than a “figure of fun”, suggesting that his departure had diminished his standing among Conservatives who once viewed him as an important future leader.

The bitterness is particularly striking because Jenrick was once regarded as one of the party’s rising stars. He served in government and became a prominent voice on immigration and other contentious political issues. His leadership campaign positioned him as a serious alternative to Badenoch, and his defeat did not initially suggest that he would soon leave the party altogether.

However, relations deteriorated rapidly. Badenoch ultimately removed him from the Conservative parliamentary ranks after learning that he was preparing to defect to Reform UK. The move was followed by a highly public political break, with Jenrick subsequently taking on a prominent role as Reform’s economy spokesperson.

Since joining Reform, Jenrick has remained highly visible. He has frequently used social media to promote his political arguments and to draw attention to issues including crime, fare evasion and shoplifting. His energetic online presence has made him one of Reform’s more recognisable figures, but among Conservative colleagues it is often viewed with irritation rather than admiration.

Some Conservatives who previously supported Jenrick have expressed particular disappointment over his conduct after the leadership contest. One former supporter said he had felt betrayed by what he regarded as efforts to undermine the party leadership after Jenrick failed to secure the top position.

The criticism has extended well beyond ordinary party members. Conservative figures attending conference events have spoken openly about Jenrick, sometimes with strikingly personal language. One senior Tory reportedly compared missing him to missing a painful dental problem, illustrating the depth of hostility that appears to have developed towards the former colleague.

Other Conservatives have suggested that Jenrick’s departure has actually helped the party become more cohesive. His decision to defect, along with the departures of several other Conservative MPs, has allowed Badenoch and her supporters to present the remaining parliamentary party as more disciplined and united.

The language used by senior Conservatives reflects how decisively the relationship has broken down. Members of Badenoch’s team have previously described the defectors in highly derogatory terms, while the Conservative leader has made clear that those who left for Reform should not expect an invitation to return.

Badenoch has even credited Reform leader Nigel Farage with effectively carrying out what she described as the “spring cleaning” of the Conservative Party. The remark underlines the extent to which the Conservatives now regard the defections as a process that removed internal opponents and left behind a more unified political organisation.

The rejection of Jenrick was reinforced at a fringe conference event involving Conservative shadow cabinet figures. When deputy leader Alex Burghart was asked whether the party would consider welcoming Jenrick or any of the other former Conservative MPs who defected back into its ranks, his response was emphatic. He rejected the prospect of bringing any of them back.

That stance reflects a broader strategic calculation. The Conservatives are attempting to rebuild their political identity while competing directly with Reform UK for voters on the right of British politics. Former Conservative MPs who have crossed the floor therefore carry an unusual significance. Their decisions are not simply personal career choices; they are also symbols of the struggle over the future direction of the British right.

Jenrick’s new position makes the issue particularly sensitive. As a Reform spokesperson on the economy, he is now helping a rival party challenge the Conservatives on one of the central issues facing British voters. His criticism of his former party has also continued, including accusations that Conservatives are adopting policies previously associated with Reform.

That has ensured that the political separation remains visible even though Jenrick is no longer physically present among Conservative MPs.

The Birmingham tapestry therefore serves two purposes. On the surface, it is a piece of conference entertainment, offering members a humorous retelling of recent political events. Beneath the jokes, however, it reflects genuine tensions within a party that has experienced leadership changes, defections and an increasingly direct electoral challenge from Reform.

The mockery also demonstrates how quickly political fortunes can change. Jenrick once stood as a candidate for the Conservative leadership and was considered by supporters to have a significant future within the party. Today, his former colleagues are laughing at his caricature and publicly insisting that they have moved on.

Aphra Brandreth, the shadow undersecretary for environment, food and rural affairs, offered perhaps the most carefully restrained assessment. She said she did not spend time thinking about Jenrick and that he had gone and the party had moved forward.

Yet the prominence given to Jenrick at the conference suggests that the issue has not disappeared entirely. His image woven into a giant political tapestry, the repeated references from Conservative figures and the enthusiasm with which members discuss his departure all indicate that the former colleague remains useful as a symbol of a political rupture the Conservatives have yet to forget.

For Jenrick, meanwhile, the conference presents an opportunity to observe his former party from across the political divide. Reform UK is seeking to strengthen its position as a major force in British politics, while the Conservatives are attempting to recover ground and re-establish themselves as the principal party of the political right.

The hostility on display in Birmingham is therefore more than a personal feud. It represents a wider battle over political loyalty, leadership and the future direction of British conservatism. For now, Conservative members appear happy to turn their former colleague into the villain of their own political story, while Jenrick continues his career on the other side of the political divide.