Braverman's Reform Defection Marks Conservative Rebirth, Says Greening
Former Conservative MP Justine Greening has declared that the defection of Suella Braverman to Reform UK signals the beginning of a much-needed rejuvenation for the Conservative Party. This move follows Robert Jenrick's earlier departure, with Greening suggesting that shedding these divisive figures could finally allow the party to return to the political mainstream under Kemi Badenoch's leadership.
End of the "Wrecker" Era
Greening, who served as Conservative MP for Putney from 2005 to 2019, described Braverman and Jenrick as "wreckers" whose presence had alienated millions of centre-ground voters. She argued that their hectoring, divisive, and aggressive style, combined with what she characterised as incompetence in government and lack of political strategy, had caused significant electoral damage to the party.
"For those of us who have long pointed out the utter failure of their strategy, it's schadenfreude to see them leave a ship they themselves so effectively torpedoed," Greening wrote. "Reform UK is welcome to them. I suspect Nigel Farage will rue the day they came on board."
Opportunity for Badenoch's Leadership
The departure of these figures creates what Greening describes as a small but significant window of opportunity for current Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch. With Braverman and Jenrick gone, Badenoch now has greater freedom to steer the party toward what Greening identifies as the necessary path to electoral recovery.
"The Conservative party can only win by returning to the mainstream of British politics," Greening asserted, "focused on aspiration, access to opportunity, stronger social mobility and a vision of equality of opportunity for all."
New Political Vehicles Emerge
Greening pointed to the newly launched Prosper UK, a centre-right group she supports, as a potential vehicle for Badenoch to guide the party in this new direction. She emphasised that while the road to recovery remains long, the party has finally reached the end of a political cul-de-sac that Braverman, Jenrick and their allies had led it down.
The former minister criticised what she called the "negative politics" of Braverman and Jenrick's approach, comparing their rhetorical style to that of Momentum and Jeremy Corbyn in focusing on describing problems rather than offering solutions.
Looking Toward the Future
"The battle for a rejuvenated Conservative party truly begins today," Greening concluded. "It could offer millions of disenfranchised centre-right voters the choice they so badly deserve."
Her comments come at what she describes as a time of bleak headlines for Conservatives, suggesting that Badenoch's leadership has shown more sure-footedness than in recent years, and that this moment represents a crucial turning point for the party's future direction and electoral prospects.
