Robert Jenrick accuses Kemi Badenoch of ‘garbage’ attacks in stark warning: ‘She could destroy the party!’
Tory leadership candidate Robert Jenrick has launched a scathing attack against rival Kemi Badenoch, accusing her of making “garbage attacks” that could potentially “destroy” the Conservative Party.
Speaking to GB News on The Camilla Tominey Show, Jenrick expressed his disappointment with Badenoch’s recent comments about his past, including his dismissal by Boris Johnson.
He warned that such behaviour could spell doom for the party’s future.
Badenoch made thinly-veiled swipes at Jenrick in an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, emphasising the importance of “integrity” in leadership and pointedly stating, “I’ve never been sacked”.
The exchange marks a significant escalation in tensions between the two candidates vying for the Conservative Party leadership.
She stated: “I was never sacked for anything, I didn’t have to resign in disgrace or, you know, because there was a whiff of impropriety. Everything has always been above board.”
Badenoch added: “I think that that’s something that we really need to think about for who is going to be leader.”
Despite Badenoch’s apparent lead in party member support, Jenrick insists the race is “neck and neck”, citing a YouGov poll from several weeks ago.
Addressing Badenoch’s comments, Jenrick told GB News: “With respect, these comments are just pure garbage. This is misinformation. These are petty personal attacks.”
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He added: “I want to unite the Conservative Party. Your viewers are sick of this rubbish, they want it to end.
“You cannot claim to be a unity candidate and go making ad hominem attacks on Conservative colleagues.”
Jenrick also defended his record, saying: “I will never be ashamed of trying to get homes built in this country, getting young people onto the housing ladder.”
He later noted that the Labour-controlled Tower Hamlets council recently approved the same housing scheme he had supported years ago.
Jenrick emphasised the need to end “drama” and “petty disputes”, saying: “The public are sick to death of this kind of garbage. It needs to end now.”
Jenrick’s call for unity within the Conservative Party was a central theme of his response. He emphasised his desire to “bring together the whole Conservative team” if elected as party leader.
The leadership candidate warned that Badenoch’s approach could be detrimental to the party’s future.
“If Kemi does this to Conservative colleagues, this will be the death of the Conservative Party,” he stated.
Jenrick also addressed Johnson’s decision to sack him in September 2021.
He said: “Boris decided to row back on planning reforms, something he subsequently said that he regrets.”
He reiterated his commitment to helping young people onto the housing ladder and ensuring city regeneration, describing it as a “key part of my mission”.