Source: New York Times
“A senior lawmaker for Britain’s Conservative Party was accused on Thursday of ‘plotting’ to defect to a rival party and was ousted, highlighting the fierce competition that is underway for the future of the country’s political right. Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the Conservatives, said on social media that she had fired Robert Jenrick, one of the party’s leading lawmakers, after being ‘presented with clear, irrefutable evidence’ that he wanted to leave in a way that would cause maximum damage to his longtime party. Ms. Badenoch did not name the party, but Mr. Jenrick, who has hard-right views, had been rumored to be considering defecting to Reform U.K., the right-wing populist party led by Nigel Farage. Mr. Jenrick did not respond to a request for comment.” (01/15/26)