What a week. Robert Jenrick’s defection to Reform yesterday electrified Westminster and the fallout is still spreading. When our editor asked everyone at The Spectator whether Badenoch or Farage was stronger as a result of the Tory leader’s decision to pre-empt the deal and kick him out, I answered that they both were in a better position than they had been on Thursday morning. Badenoch has solidified her control on the Tory party and Farage has enhanced a team which is weak on ministerial experience, showing further momentum.

The battle to convince their own sides that Jenrick is a traitor/a key component of a future government has continued today. I understand Jenrick went for drinks with all of Reform’s other MPs after the press conference and also had dinner with his new colleagues. Zia Yusuf, the most virulently anti-Tory figure near the top of Reform, joined the convivial dinner and pictures exist of the two together – evidence that two of the biggest personalities and egos in the party are willing to park a likely rivalry to help Farage make it to Downing Street.

Kemi Badenoch has cojones, Nigel Farage has momentum, Robert Jenrick probably has fewer friends

When the Tory story dropped, Farage was on the stage in Scotland. As soon as he headed home, he called Jenrick from the car and said: ‘Let’s do this at 4.30pm’ – a press conference originally intended for something else. I understand, despite what seemed like a long night of the soul through the afternoon (and the last minute blip where he failed to appear on stage), Jenrick agreed immediately (‘It was not a long call’). He was holed up in Reform headquarters by 2.30pm and his........

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