Robert Jenrick has stated the final stage of the Conservative leadership race by aiming at his rival, Kemi Badenoch, in a series of pointed remarks.
The former immigration minister, positioning himself as the serious candidate to succeed Rishi Sunak, hinted that Badenoch’s leadership could bring “needless drama” to the party.
Jenrick, who set out a hardline stance on legal and illegal migration during his speech, underscored the need for the Conservative Party to “get serious” following its worst general election defeat in history.
In what appeared to be a veiled jab at Badenoch, Jenrick said: “The public need to see that we are laser-focused on what they really care about, not getting drawn down rabbit holes.”
He added, “The Conservative Party is the oldest, most successful political party in the world. We exist to serve our country in government, not to do battle on Twitter.”
Jenrick’s remarks seemed to be a clear reference to Badenoch’s frequent online skirmishes, including a notable exchange on X, formerly Twitter, with Doctor Who actor David Tennant before the general election. Badenoch was also involved in a heated exchange in July with former home secretary Suella Braverman on the same platform.
During the pandemic, she even publicly accused a journalist of “creepy and bizarre” behavior for asking questions about her involvement in the government’s vaccine program.
Leadership Fight Takes A Sharp Turn
When asked if his comments were aimed directly at Badenoch, Jenrick refrained from confirming.
“The party has been characterized by disunity, petty squabbling, and differences that need to end. That is what the public is expecting of us right now, so if I am lucky enough to lead the party, that is what I will do — I want to heal the party.”
His statements follow a surprise move by Conservative MPs to shift to the right, dropping centrist candidate James Cleverly from the leadership contest.
Jenrick made his first formal pitch to party activists and MPs at the Policy Exchange think tank, centering his message on immigration and his belief that the Conservative Party’s future hinges on addressing the issue more seriously.
“At this leadership election, we have a profound choice, a clear choice: where do we stand on migration? I say leave the ECHR (European Convention on Human Rights), cap migration in the tens of thousands, and regain the trust of the British public.”
Robert Jenrick
Jenrick asserted that if the party doesn’t take decisive action on migration, its survival is at stake. “It is as simple as that, so let’s get serious now,” he warned.
His stance on leaving the ECHR contrasts with Badenoch’s, who has been more reserved on the issue, saying she would only consider leaving the convention if absolutely necessary.
Contest May Conclude Early
In addition to his strong position on immigration, Jenrick promised that under his leadership, the Conservatives would stand for a “complete break from Labour’s failing agenda.” He clarified that his campaign represents a fresh start for the country, emphasizing the importance of offering a “complete break” from Labour’s policies.
Jenrick also took the opportunity to criticize Labour’s approach to immigration, claiming the opposition party “doesn’t really care about fixing this.” He then laid out plans to immediately challenge Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer if he wins the leadership race.
Jenrick expressed a desire to move up the timeline for the contest’s conclusion, allowing him to be in place by October 30, when Labour’s shadow chancellor, Rachel Reeves, will present the party’s budget.
As things currently stand, the Conservative leadership race will not conclude until November 2. One of Rishi Sunak’s last acts as opposition leader will be to deliver the Tory response to Labour’s fiscal plans.
Jenrick’s desire to hasten the process is seen as an effort to position himself and his party for an early confrontation with Starmer’s Labour.
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