Badenoch's paranoid pre-emptive strike against Jenrick reveals her weakness, not strength. She couldn't tolerate a popular rival who consistently topped member approval ratings, so she manufactured a crisis based on dinner conversations. This latest blue-on-blue psychodrama perfectly captures the endless Toryright-wing infighting that already alienated voters.

Jenrick's move to Reform is pragmatic, not reckless. After years of loyalty, he was sidelined for voicing concerns many Tory voters share, especially on migration. Joining Reform aligns him with a growing right-leaning electorate and figures like Farage, giving him a clearer mandate, electoral protection in Newark, and a platform to shape policy rather than be muted by party discipline at a pivotal moment.