Following something of a lean spell in recent local by-elections, Reform finally had something to cheer on Thursday, after claiming a pair of wins in Beechwood & Heath and Worksop East. Good for them. But one senior representative who may not be all smiles this weekend is Robert Jenrick.
ALSO READ: ‘Defector’ Reform MPs projected to LOSE seats to Tory candidates at next election
Reform celebrate by-election wins – but Robert Jenrick may have cause for concern
In fact, the former government minister could well be looking over his shoulder, following the results of two by-elections that were held in and around his constituency of Newark this week – and the one within the boundaries of his electoral mandate proved to be the most comprehensive.
In Southwell, the Tories almost outnumbered Reform by two votes to one, with the former claiming 45% of the vote and the latter chalking up just 26%. The result also allowed the Conservative Councillors Association to rub salt in the wounds. They predict Robert Jenrick will end up ‘contesting a different seat’.
Voters back Tories over Reform in Newark-Sherwood constituencies
The Dover Beck ward also opted to elect the Conservative candidate over the Reform option, albeit by a more narrow margin. Though this contest took place in a constituency that Jenrick stopped representing in 2024, it’s proximity to the heartlands of Newark and Sherwood carries substantial political relevance.
Robert Jenrick projected to lose seat as MP – to the party he defected from
After crossing the floor to switch from the Tories to Reform at the start of the year, Mr. Jenrick hasn’t exactly got to ride the crest of a wave. His swap of allegiances has coincided with Reform’s nosedive down the polls, squandering a 12-point lead over Labour and ranking third behind the Tories.
During an appearance on Good Morning Britain on Thursday, Robert Jenrick was asked by presenter Paul Brand if he feels any “defector’s remorse” after events of recent weeks. The jibe left him rattled, and he responded by labelling the host as a ‘left-wing activist’.
However, news anchors can’t be blamed for the recent polling data coming out of Newark. Over the past few months, a clear trend has emerged, showing that the voters in Jenrick’s constituency are likely to remain loyal to the Tories, rather than cross the thin teal line and back Reform.
Perhaps Brand was on to something after all…