In a shocking move, Robert Jenrick, MP for Newark, has defected to Reform UK, leaving many in his own party reeling. The decision has sparked intense debate among locals, with some calling him a "coward" and a "traitor", while others have expressed disappointment and betrayal.
Nigel Farage's tongue-in-cheek comment about Jenrick being the "latest Christmas present I've ever had" sums up the surprise and delight felt by some Reform UK supporters. However, for Conservative MPs, his defection is seen as a grave mistake.
In Newark itself, reactions to Jenrick's departure have been mixed. Local councillor Sam Smith has condemned what he sees as a betrayal of the voters who elected him, citing his previous commitments to conservative policies and values. For many residents in the constituency, this sense of disillusionment rings true.
But what do the people of Newark really think about Jenrick's sudden change of allegiance? We spoke to several locals to find out how they feel about losing their MP - or gaining a new one from Reform UK.
"I'm not surprised," says local resident Emily Johnson. "I've never been a big fan of his, but I always thought he'd be loyal to his party." When asked if she's now supportive of Reform UK, she hesitates: "I don't know... I guess it's interesting that someone like Jenrick would want to join them."
Meanwhile, former Conservative supporter David Taylor is more candid about his feelings. "To be honest, I'm a bit annoyed," he admits. "Jenrick was always seen as a bit of a yes-man for the party, but this is just ridiculous. He's abandoning ship when it suits him."
When asked if he'll be voting for Reform UK in the next election, Taylor shrugs: "I don't know... I need to think about that." It's clear, however, that Jenrick's defection has shaken some of his former supporters, leaving them questioning what they truly believed.
As Newark residents navigate this unexpected development, one thing is certain - Robert Jenrick's departure from the Conservative party will be felt for a long time to come.
Nigel Farage's tongue-in-cheek comment about Jenrick being the "latest Christmas present I've ever had" sums up the surprise and delight felt by some Reform UK supporters. However, for Conservative MPs, his defection is seen as a grave mistake.
In Newark itself, reactions to Jenrick's departure have been mixed. Local councillor Sam Smith has condemned what he sees as a betrayal of the voters who elected him, citing his previous commitments to conservative policies and values. For many residents in the constituency, this sense of disillusionment rings true.
But what do the people of Newark really think about Jenrick's sudden change of allegiance? We spoke to several locals to find out how they feel about losing their MP - or gaining a new one from Reform UK.
"I'm not surprised," says local resident Emily Johnson. "I've never been a big fan of his, but I always thought he'd be loyal to his party." When asked if she's now supportive of Reform UK, she hesitates: "I don't know... I guess it's interesting that someone like Jenrick would want to join them."
Meanwhile, former Conservative supporter David Taylor is more candid about his feelings. "To be honest, I'm a bit annoyed," he admits. "Jenrick was always seen as a bit of a yes-man for the party, but this is just ridiculous. He's abandoning ship when it suits him."
When asked if he'll be voting for Reform UK in the next election, Taylor shrugs: "I don't know... I need to think about that." It's clear, however, that Jenrick's defection has shaken some of his former supporters, leaving them questioning what they truly believed.
As Newark residents navigate this unexpected development, one thing is certain - Robert Jenrick's departure from the Conservative party will be felt for a long time to come.
... I mean, what happened to loyalty? If you're gonna switch sides, do it for real, don't just jump ship when it's convenient like Jenrick did 
. Some ppl r sayin he's a "coward" & that's not too far off from my opinion 
. But at the same time, I get why some ppl would wanna leave the Conservative party - they've been kinda... stuck in the past lately 
. Now it's all about Reform UK and their promise of change 
. Can we really trust 'em tho? Only time will tell 
.
... jenrick was always seen as more of a yes-man, but now hes trying to make a new name for himself in reform uk? idk if thats gonna fly with the locals 
... what do you guys think tho? should jenrick get another chance? or is he done deal? 
they're stuck with some new mp who might be just as untrustworthy. david taylor makes sense tho, jenrick always came across as more of a party man than someone who'd actually listen to the people 
seriously though, who knew he was just waiting for the perfect moment to jump ship? sounds like he's playing a game of musical chairs, but with parties instead 
so yeah, local councillor Sam Smith is salty and David Taylor is feeling betrayed, but what do we know, maybe Jenrick's finally found his true calling (like in the show "Glee") 
). but seriously tho, it'll be interesting to see how jenrick navigates his new role and whether ppl in Newark actually welcome him with open arms 
. What bugs me is that his constituents seem kinda let down – they're wondering if he's just trying to boost his own profile or something 
.
! This is crazy! Like, who knew Jenrick was just waiting for his chance to make a move? 
. I'm kinda curious about what his reasons were for switching parties 
.
. As for Reform UK, I'm not sure what to make of them yet... they seem like a bunch of noise makers to me 
.
. Newsflash: it takes two sides to make a party work, and we're not going anywhere anytime soon 
. The real test will come when they try to implement their policies and see how that plays out 
.
. You gotta be willing to make moves, adapt, and sometimes even sacrifice your principles to get ahead 
.
. Does anyone really know who they are anymore? Even for those who are left in their party, it's probably hard to let go of the sense that something fundamental has shifted... I guess we'll just have to keep waiting and watching to see what comes next 
[ image of a clown car with a single person inside ]
...just kidding! 
[ GIF of a politician walking away from a party with a "I'm outta here!" expression ] 
[ meme of a person trying to escape a sinking ship, but really just swimming in circles ]