Reform UK’s former head of communications has hit out at Robert Jenrick after the Tory leadership candidate’s comments about Nigel Farage.
Speaking on GB News this morning, the man who reached the final two said he’s got the Reform leader “rattled” as he set out his ambition to win back voters who turned away from the Conservative Party in July’s General Election.
But according to Gawain Towler, Jenrick is being “petty” and Nigel is in no way concerned about him potentially becoming the leader of the Conservatives.
“Reform is not rattled. We have just gone up to 90,000 members”, he said.
Gawain Towler hit out at Robert Jenrick's comments
GB NEWS / PA
“The only person who has anything to do with rattled at the moment is Jenrick throwing his toys out the pram.
“His translucency, there’s something not quite there. He was standing up at the Conservative Party Conference like it was a sixth form debate.”
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Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick will be quizzed by Conservative Party members in a two-hour special live programme on GB NewsPAJenrick has drawn a line between himself and his opponent in the final two, Kemi Badenoch, by reaffirming his commitment to leaving the ECHR (European Court of Human Rights).
He said on GB News that leaving the system will provide Britain with the opportunity to lower migration into the “tens of thousands”.
But Towler thinks he is being disingenuous and questioned whether he believes in what he is saying.
“They have deceived us every single time. So why would someone believe them?”, he asked.
Gawain Towler joined Tom Harwood and Emily Carver on GB News
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“The amount of time we have had these promises. I don’t think anyone voting Reform or considering voting Reform would consider voting for him.
“I know most people in Reform, having been involved for 20 years, and I have not met a single sausage who would consider voting Tory.
“The only way any of the Tory leadership candidates could get any column inches at the Tory Party conference was by mentioning Nigel Farage.
“They’re fixated on him.”
One issue the two candidates face is winning over the centrist swathes of the party, with the Tory Reform Group (TRG) refusing to back either of them.
The group, which describes itself as “the home of One Nation Conservatism since 1975” said in a statement that both candidates have “used rhetoric and focused on issues which are far and away from the party at its best, let alone the One Nation values we cherish and uphold”.
Some of the TRG’s patrons include serving MPs who have, however, individually declared their support for one of the remaining candidates.
For example, shadow Treasury minister Nigel Huddleston is supporting Kemi Badenoch, while shadow Scotland secretary John Lamont has signalled his support for Robert Jenrick.