"Any assessment of the long-term impact of Robert Jenrick's defection on the Conservative party must start with what you think he represents not merely the what of his views, and his popularity with the party grassroots, but the why of them. Is he merely a talented opportunist, a snake in the Tory Eden who was leading it astray? Or was he trying to answer the challenge of the moment, which many of his former colleagues simply preferred to ignore?"
"The real danger to the Tory party of Jenrick's defection is that it encourages its complacency, with the wing of the party that never liked Jenrick seeing his departure as an opportunity to retreat to its comfort zone. Kemi Badenoch handled the defection about as well as she could have, and deserves the plaudits. Her position as leader of the party is much more secure than it was a week ago, and not just because her most obvious rival has left it."
Robert Jenrick's defection highlights underlying debates about what he represents, beyond his views and grassroots popularity, and whether his motives were opportunistic or responsive to urgent challenges. Personal ambition played a role in recent events, but the primary danger lies in encouraging complacency among party factions that opposed him, enabling a retreat to familiar positions. Kemi Badenoch managed the situation effectively and has a more secure leadership position than before, partly because she consolidated votes against Jenrick. Critics of Jenrick lack a clear alternative diagnosis of the party's or country's problems, risking strategic stagnation.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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