LONDON — Nigel Farage has welcomed a new ally to his Reform UK movement, but the relationship between him and Robert Jenrick has been anything but smooth. Jenrick, a former contender for the Conservative leadership, made headlines when he defected to Farage’s right-wing cause after being dismissed from the Conservative Party by leader Kemi Badenoch.
Expressing his support for Farage, Jenrick stated that Farage was “obviously the right person to lead the movement for change Britain needs,” remarking that the Reform leader is often “a lone voice of common sense.” However, their history suggests that they have not always been on the best of terms.
Past confrontations reveal a rocky relationship
In light of their recent partnership, POLITICO revisits seven significant occasions where Farage and Jenrick were at odds.
“I doubt that Jenrick will last long if he wins.”
In September 2024, tensions flared when Farage criticized Jenrick’s ambition to lead the Conservative Party, branding him as “formerly a man that believed in nothing” and accusing him of seeking political gain instead of showing true conviction. Farage’s disdain was palpable as he concluded, “This is almost certainly done for political gain and not out of conviction. He will divide the party.”
The following month saw Farage labeling Jenrick a “hypocrite” after reports surfaced that Jenrick had approved long-term contracts for housing irregular migrants during his tenure as immigration minister. Farage did not hold back, stating, “Don’t believe a word that he says on anything.”
A battle of barbs
The animosity continued into April 2025 when Farage’s response to whether Jenrick would be welcomed into Reform was non-committal. He remarked, “Maybe … if we thought he was genuine, yes,” while reminding everyone of Jenrick’s past as “Robert the Remainer.”
In May 2025, Jenrick retaliated by suggesting Farage’s policy ideas might be influenced by too many drinks, asking rhetorically if Farage had “cooked this up after one too many pints at his local?”
As protests erupted over hotels housing irregular migrants in Essex in August 2025, the two exchanged insults, with Farage asserting that Jenrick was “no friend” to the town of Epping, criticizing his record as immigration minister. Jenrick, eager for a comeback, accused Farage of being “rattled.”
Further disparagement occurred later that summer when Farage tweeted that Jenrick was “a fraud,” citing past comments from Jenrick about securing additional hotels for migrants.
In September 2025, Jenrick described Farage as “a good bloke to go to the pub with,” but expressed doubts about his capability to run schools or hospitals, implying that Farage might not be suited for such serious responsibilities. He also previously mentioned his ambition to “put Reform out of business,” hinting at a strong rivalry even as they now stand together.
In a political landscape where alliances can shift dramatically, Jenrick’s decision to unite with Farage marks a significant turn in their tumultuous relationship, illustrating how political necessity can sometimes lead former rivals to join forces.