Jenrick tells Express readers: ditch Tories or risk Labour, Greens or 'Islamist' councils

Robert Jenrick has urged Express readers to abandon the Conservative Party at next month's local elections - and warned that voting Conservative could hand power to Labour, the Greens or "Islamist extremists". In an exclusive interview with this paper, the Reform UK Treasury spokesman, who defected from the Conservatives in January, insisted the Conservatives were "finished as a national party".

He urged people to back Nigel Farage's movement, saying that not doing so would risk allowing left-wing coalitions to seize control of councils across the UK. "Voting Conservative rather than Reform just makes it more likely you end up with not just a Labour council, but probably a Green council or even one run by Islamist extremists, probably in weird and dangerous coalitions," he said.

"Express readers should know: it is Nigel and Reform, or Labour, Greens and Islamists." Mr Jenrick was referencing independent candidates and elements of the Green Party which he has previously decried as "Islamists". A Green Party source branded the claims "divisive nonsense" from Mr Jenrick who they described as a "washed up old Tory".

The Green Party added: "Reform are scared of the Greens because recent polling evidence shows we're taking votes directly from them."

A Labour Party Spokesperson said: "These cynical comments by Robert Jenrick just expose his opportunism in jumping ship from the Tories to Reform. No wonder Nigel Farage said he was a fraud.

"While Reform and the Tories squabble and shout from the sidelines, Labour is getting on with the job of fixing the NHS, easing the cost of living, and rebuilding pride in our communities."

The former Conservative Cabinet Minister added that the Tories post-May "may continue to exist in some obscure pockets of great affluence - a Conservative Party of Kensington, not of Newark."

The broadside came as both parties gear up for a bitter battle at the May 7 local elections, which Nigel Farage has set as a test of whether Reform has replaced the Tories as the principal force on the Right of British politics.

But Louie French, the Conservative MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup, rounded on Reform, saying the party had demonstrated it "cannot complete basic vetting, let alone run a council or the country."

Mr French pointed to a series of damaging scandals, including the sacking of Reform's housing spokesman less than a month into the role, candidates dropping out across the country, and a London mayoral candidate who described outer London's green belt as "industrial wasteland."

"One of the biggest issues in outer London is Sadiq Khan's plans to concrete over our green spaces," said Mr French. "Rather than stand up to him, Reform has already betrayed people in Bexley by voting with him in City Hall last year."

He added: "Only the Conservatives can win in London and stop the chaos of Labour, Greens and Reform."

Jenrick defected to Reform in January after Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch sacked him from the Shadow Cabinet, saying she had "irrefutable evidence" he had been secretly plotting to switch sides in a manner designed to cause maximum damage to his former colleagues.

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has previously said he would "actively explore" building in the green belt.

Multiple councils across England head to the polls on 7 May this year.