In a dramatic escalation of hostilities between the two right-wing parties, Robert Jenrick—a former Conservative minister who defected to Reform UK—directly accused his onetime leader of fabricating details about her discussions in Rome. Badenoch had reportedly met with Prime Minister Meloni last week, and Italian sources suggested Meloni advised her to 'be her own woman' and avoid cooperation with Reform.
Jenrick, however, described the narrative as 'a pack of lies' and said it was an attempt to undermine his party's growing influence. 'Kemi is desperate. She is making up stories to distract from her failures,' he told journalists on Wednesday.
The Conservative Party has not officially commented on the specifics of the meeting, but a spokesperson reiterated that Badenoch's leadership remains focused on uniting the centre-right and opposing Labour's agenda. Reform UK has been gaining ground in recent opinion polls, and any suggestion of a deal between the two parties has been a sensitive topic.
Meloni's office has not confirmed which version of events is accurate, though Italian media reports indicate the prime minister did express caution about partnering with Reform—views consistent with her own party's stance on coalition-building.
The attack comes at a delicate time for Badenoch, who has faced internal party dissent and external pressure from Reform. Jenrick's decision to go personal rather than policy-based signals a shift in tactics for Reform, which has increasingly sought to position itself as the true voice of British conservatism.
Both parties are now watching closely for any further leaks or confirmations from Rome that could settle the dispute—or fuel it further.