Conservative-Reform UK Rift Deepens as Robert Jenrick Attacks Kemi Badenoch Over Giorgia Meloni Row

Robert Jenrick has accused Kemi Badenoch of telling what he called 'a pack of lies' about her meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, escalating tensions between the Conservative Party and Reform UK.

The dispute centres around reported comments from a meeting between Badenoch and Meloni in Rome. It was initially reported by The Times that Meloni had urged Badenoch to 'be your own woman and stand your ground' against Nigel Farage's Reform UK, though a Conservative spokesperson later denied that account.

The Rome Meeting and the Report That Changed

The meeting took place over coffee in Rome and lasted roughly an hour. According to The Times' original reporting, Meloni told Badenoch she needed to 'be yourself', with the exchange framed as encouragement for Badenoch to resist any electoral pact with Reform UK.

That account was subsequently challenged. An Italian party official pushed back, insisting Meloni has 'no hostility' toward either Farage or Reform UK, and the original report was subsequently amended.

Jenrick Responds to Badenoch Dispute

Jenrick, who serves as Reform UK's Treasury spokesman after defecting from the Conservatives earlier this year, addressed the situation directly in broadcast comments. He described Badenoch's position as 'very embarrassing' and accused her of fabricating details of the meeting.

'It was obviously very, very embarrassing for Kemi Badenoch,' Jenrick said. 'My advice, if you go and visit a foreign leader, is do not make up a pack of lies about what they say.'

He went further, calling Badenoch a 'fantasist' and referencing an unrelated separate controversy involving a university degree offer he said she had listed on her CV.

Conservatives Hit Back at Reform

A spokesperson for Badenoch rejected Jenrick's characterisation of events, saying the party had not made false claims about the Meloni meeting. The spokesperson accused Reform UK of 'just making things up' and 'peddling conspiracy theories to distract people'.

In response, the Conservative spokesperson pointed to a separate matter involving Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. They referenced a five million pound donation Farage received from a Thailand-based businessman, though they did not draw a direct connection between that donation and the Meloni dispute itself.

Jenrick and Badenoch's Fractured Alliance

Jenrick and Badenoch were the two finalists in the Conservative Party's 2024 leadership contest, following the party's defeat in that year's general election. Badenoch won the contest with 53,806 votes to Jenrick's 41,388, a margin of roughly 57 per cent to 43 per cent among eligible party members.

Jenrick left the Conservative Party for Reform UK earlier this year, having previously served as immigration minister. He built a reputation within the party for hardline positions on immigration policy.

What Else Was Discussed in Rome

Beyond the disputed comments, reports of the Rome meeting described a broader discussion between the two leaders.

This included shared references to Margaret Thatcher and discussions on economic policy aimed at retaining wealthy individuals in the UK and Italy, with Badenoch having previously described herself as in regular contact with Meloni.

Meloni has led Italy since 2022 and is on track to become the country's longest-serving prime minister in the history of the Italian Republic.

What Meloni Actually Said Remains Unconfirmed

Neither the Conservative Party nor Reform UK has indicated the dispute will be resolved through further public statements or a joint clarification from Meloni's office. As of the most recent reporting, the exact wording used by Meloni during the Rome meeting has not been independently confirmed by all parties involved.