In politics as in life, you must take what fate has given you and make the most of it. Arise, then, Robert Jenrick and Andrew Rosindell; the men who have just saved the centre-right. Well, who may save the centre-right. Who will, possibly, if the stars put a bit more work into aligning and some people decide to finally get a shift on, eventually save the centre-right.
Granted, it’s not the world’s most obvious plan. Robert Jenrick, once a placid Cameroon, has now been swimming somewhere to the right of Genghis Khan for some time. Some years ago, Andrew Rosindell stood against scrapping Section 28 and legalising gay marriage, and he expressed “huge admiration” for Augusto Pinochet. There is no indication that his views have changed in any way since then.
The now-former Tory MPs, both alike in indignity, jumped ship to Reform earlier this month. One defection ended up being somewhat disastrous, with Kemi Badenoch sacking Bobby J before he had the chance to quit himself. The other was more orderly, but altogether less impressive.
In any case, much has now been made of the moves being awful for the Conservative party, and a sign that Nigel Farage’s gang is now in control of the future of the right. The analysis isn’t entirely wrong. Career-obsessed cynics don’t need to be respected, but their moves are often telling, as they will follow the promise of power like a cartoon character floating towards the scent of apple pie.
Jenrick was almost certainly going to be the next Tory leader after Badenoch; that he refused to wait even until the May elections to start looking further afield is quite telling. A lot can happen in a short amount of time, especially in British politics, but it is true that 2026 currently looks set to be Reform’s year.
Suggested Reading
A lesson for Robert Jenrick: How to plot a proper defection
Still, shrewd Tories probably ought to be celebrating right now. For a start: Jenrick’s radicalisation threatened to push the party further and further towards the hard-right. His departure can only be good news for those who care about basic human decency, and the Tories’ commitment to values like, say, democracy, fairness and the rule of law.
Similarly, few tears should be shed for Rosindell, a dinosaur dragging the party down, and someone who frankly shouldn’t belong in any modern political party. In fact, this is the whole point: in the aftermath of Brexit and the mad chaos of Boris Johnson and the 2019 election, the Conservative party lost many of its finest minds, and instead found itself shackled to numerous nutters and extremists.
The balance of power shifted and, suddenly, it seemed impossible that the centre-right could ever regain the upper hand. Too many sane MPs had been purged or made to flee; too many unhinged ideologues had replaced them. Even a few months ago, it looked like the Tories would keep sailing towards political irrelevance, cannibalised by everyone, yet unable to take on anyone.
Could those defections to Reform mark the end of the doom spiral? Jenrick and Rosindell are gone, as are many of the former MPs and operatives who sank the Tories in the first place. Of course, it doesn’t look good for Badenoch that she’s haemorrhaging people. It’s also fair to say that her leadership is… well. It isn’t good.
There are some local elections coming in the spring, however, and she could well be ousted then. The party gave her a shot and she squandered it; failed to prove herself and make a mark as leader of the opposition. One of the things keeping her in place was the very fact that Jenrick was waiting in the wings, ready to pounce and be chosen by the membership.
This threat has now gone, and one assumes that a number of the Tories’ most right-wing members have now shifted to Reform. The centre-right, which has been doing such a good job of doing nothing at all for the past few years, has just over three months to get plotting.
Sure, the current shadow cabinet is far from impressive, but there is still some talent on their benches. It wouldn’t – or shouldn’t – take much to rouse those people and tell them to stop pushing their own heads under the water.
There are still years to go before the next general election: Reform are riding high right now, but a lot can happen before 2029, especially given the times we live in. There is a gaping hole in the middle of the political spectrum right now, and it wouldn’t take much work to fill it.
Oh, and it would be quite a poetic turn for Robert Jenrick, once a centrist MP, now the accidental saviour of the centre-right. Funny how life works out sometimes, isn’t it?
Most popular
Emily Maitlis exclusive: Fear and loathing in Minnesota
We need a triple lock for the young
Reform UK’s guide to the history of Britain
Nigel Farage v the elites, one champagne reception at a time
