Robert Jenrick has fuelled hypothesis that he’s making ready a management marketing campaign to exchange the beleaguered Kemi Badenoch with only a week to go earlier than the native elections.
A letter to native election candidates providing his assist was revealed simply 24 hours after a recording emerged of him laying out a pledge to unite the Conservative Party and Reform UK.
Within the letter, Mr Jenrick mentioned: “I firmly imagine that one of the simplest ways to defeat our opponents is to champion Conservative values. We should not solely stand by our Conservative rules but additionally put them into motion.”
He provided to assist with affiliation fundraising and famous that he’s talking at occasions. The letter didn’t point out Tory chief Ms Badenoch, who defeated him final autumn within the closing spherical.
It comes as Tory MPs are privately questioning Ms Badenoch’s management since she took over from Rishi Sunak in November, with some overtly speculating that she might stop or be compelled out.
This comes regardless of Ms Badenoch having her strongest Prime Minister’s Questions but this week when she took purpose at Sir Keir Starmer over the Supreme Courtroom’s controversial ruling suggesting that solely organic girls must be thought of to be girls by way of feminine sports activities or single intercourse areas.
However an absence of robust performances beforehand at PMQs, a failure to provide insurance policies, and criticism over her dealing with of different MPs and the occasion have raised questions on whether or not she is the suitable individual to proceed to steer the occasion.
Added to that, the Conservatives are anticipated to lose lots of of seats subsequent week. Tory peer Lord Hayward, a number one pollster, has estimated they could lose up to 525 of the 954 seats they’re defending. In the meantime, Nigel Farage and Reform might win an estimated 450 seats.
However many MPs and senior occasion members are overtly speculating that Ms Badenoch could possibly be on her approach out, leaving a contest between Mr Jenrick and former overseas secretary Sir James Cleverly.
One MP described Ms Badenoch as “too acerbic”.
Oooh that is attention-grabbing. Robert Jenrick writing on official-looking paper to candidates standing on this election simply to say hello,
providing assist and soliciting their views…On this one, he says his purpose is to suppress Reform UK pic.twitter.com/sv5QOX3BL0
— Sam Coates Sky (@SamCoatesSky) April 24, 2025
One other mentioned: “It looks like a matter of time now. Jenrick has clearly by no means stopped campaigning, and Cleverly is quietly turning as much as member occasions to maintain himself within the image.”
A 3rd warned: “We appear to nonetheless be shedding floor to Farage and Reform, and no one is aware of what we stand for.”
One former Downing Road adviser described it as “an utter s*** present”.
A Tory spokesperson denied that they’re involved Mr Jenrick is operating a shadow management marketing campaign.
The Unbiased has contacted Mr Jenrick for remark.
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