Robert Jenrick, who ditched the Conservative Party for Reform UK last month, was left “deflecting” when he faced criticism during Question Time on BBC One on Thursday.
Reform UK’s Robert Jenrick was left flailing during Question Time on Thursday amid criticism he has displayed “naked opportunism”.
Suella Braverman became the latest in a string of politicians to defect from the Conservatives to Reform last month. It led to criticism about Nigel Farage’s party with it being described as “a care home for old Tories,” and this concern was echoed on Question Time on Thursday. The woman in the audience asked: “You talk about having trust, Mr Jenrick. However, there has been a recent spate of defections to Reform from the Conservatives, and I just wonder how we can have any faith in politicians who have displayed such naked opportunism?”
Others in the crowd in Ringwood, Hampshire, applauded the question, to which Mr Jenrick said: “Look, I see it very differently to that, as you might expect…” At this point, members of the audience are heard wildly laughing at the MP as he squirmed before continuing his bluster.
But other members of the panel in Ringwood took issue with Mr Jenrick’s answer. Jon Sopel, a former BBC journalist who presents podcast The News Agents, argued Mr Jenrick’s switch was about “personal ambition” and took the MP for Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, to task.
Mr Sopel, 66, said: “It was about personal ambition. You had a middle-ranking shadow cabinet job under Kemi Badenoch…” This led to a heated discussion, during which the audience members laughed again as it was alleged Mr Jenrick was “kicked out” of the Conservatives.
Mr Sopel then accused Mr Jenrick of flip-flopping on his stances on issues, such as Brexit, to fit in with various leaders and parties and boost his own career. After Mr Jenrick floundered with his answers again, Mr Sopel said: “Look, you’re deflecting. I think everyone can see you’re deflecting.”
Fiona Bruce, host of the programme, eventually had to interrupt to calm both panellists, who had engaged in the heated showdown days after Mr Jenrick was heckled in his own constituency following his defection. The father-of-three had announced he was joining Reform in late January after Ms Badenoch sacked him for plotting. In a speech to the party faithful, Mr Jenrick admitted he had made the jump to Reform “slightly earlier than I expected”.
