Robert Jenrick has revealed he repeatedly urged Kemi Badenoch to expel Liz Truss from the Conservative Party. The former cabinet minister says Truss’s continued membership influenced his eventual decision to defect to Reform UK.
Jenrick resigned from the Conservative front bench last week amid claims he planned to join Nigel Farage’s party. Following his departure, he criticised former colleagues and said the Conservative Party had betrayed its members and voters. He also claimed the party often ignores or misrepresents its own record.
On Monday, Jenrick told Sky News that Truss’s handling of the 2022 mini-budget showed the party was unwilling to change. He argued the fallout from the policy damaged public trust and highlighted deeper problems within the party’s leadership.
“If I had been leader, I would have kicked Liz Truss out,” Jenrick said. “The mini-budget caused real harm to people.” He explained that house sales collapsed and many worried about mortgages, pensions, and investments as a result. He added that such actions should disqualify someone from party membership.
Jenrick stressed that meaningful Conservative Party change remains unproven. He questioned why Truss still holds membership if the party truly wants reform. He said he personally raised the issue with Badenoch, but she chose not to act, which he believes reveals a broader reluctance to confront past mistakes.
Truss, who lasted just seven weeks as prime minister, has faced continued scrutiny since leaving office. During her tenure, the pound fell to a 37-year low after heavy borrowing plans funded major tax cuts.
Jenrick also criticised Badenoch for failing to confront what he described as Britain’s deep-rooted challenges. Speaking on Times Radio, he said the country cannot improve unless leaders acknowledge the scale of existing problems. “It feels like Kemi and the Conservative Party have got their heads in the sand right now,” he said.
Meanwhile, Badenoch defended the party’s record in The Daily Telegraph. She argued Britain remains strong, resilient, and influential. She added that politicians should empower the public rather than undermine confidence and reminded readers that the country has reinvented itself many times.
Jenrick’s comments have intensified debate about the Conservative Party’s future and its willingness to address past failures. As questions continue to grow, discussion around Conservative Party change is expected to dominate Westminster and political commentary.
For more updates on this news, stay tuned to London Pulse News.
