Key facts
- Robert Jenrick accused Kemi Badenoch of telling "a pack of lies" about her meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
- Jenrick described Badenoch as a "fantasist" and referenced past controversies regarding her CV and claims about university offers.
- Jenrick also alluded to fresh claims that Badenoch plotted with other ministers to remove Rishi Sunak.
- Jenrick announced Reform UK policies including scrapping data protection laws and widening tax-relief schemes for small businesses.
- Reform UK pledged a £30 tax credit for those on hold with HMRC for over half an hour.
- Labour criticized Reform UK's plan to replace GDPR with a "light-touch" privacy law.
Robert Jenrick, a Reform UK MP, has launched a scathing personal attack on Kemi Badenoch, accusing her of telling "a pack of lies" regarding her meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The dispute arose from confusion over whether Meloni had urged Badenoch to resist a deal with Reform UK.
A Conservative spokesperson denied that the party had made false claims about the meeting, stating that Reform was "making things up" and "peddling conspiracy theories." The spokesperson also referenced a £5 million gift received by Reform leader Nigel Farage from businessman Christopher Harborne.
Jenrick described Badenoch as living in a "fantasy" and brought up past controversies, including claims about her CV and an alleged offer from Stanford University. He also alluded to fresh allegations that Badenoch had plotted with other Conservative cabinet ministers to remove Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Speaking at an event, Jenrick outlined Reform UK's policy proposals, including scrapping Britain's data protection laws and expanding tax-relief schemes for small businesses. He also pledged a £30 tax credit for individuals on hold with HMRC for over 30 minutes and announced plans to scrap the 2035 zero-emission car and van sales mandate.
Labour criticized Reform UK's proposal to replace GDPR with a "light-touch" privacy law, questioning the potential risks to personal data.