Kemi Badenoch accused of ‘trampling’ on Reform and Farage with ‘immature’ membership row: ‘Gone too far!’

Reform UK’s Dame Andrea Jenkyns has launched a strong rebuke against Kemi Badenoch over her claims about leader Nigel Farage and the party’s membership numbers.Speaking to GB News, Jenkyns called Badenoch’s response “rather immature” and criticised her for “virtually accusing Nigel of fraud”.The row erupted after Reform UK claimed their membership had surpassed Conservative Party numbers, leading to Badenoch’s accusations of “fakery”.Jenkyns suggested the Tory leader’s comments had “trampled on” any potential relationship between the two parties in the future.”I think now it’s actually gone too far,” she told GB News, expressing particular concern about the accusations levelled at Reform UK’s leader Nigel Farage.”I think that’s actually trampled on any potential relationship – not that there was going to be one anyway – but I think rhetoric like that doesn’t help matters”, she added.Defending the party further, Jenkyns expressed confidence in Reform UK’s growing influence, highlighting their rapid membership growth.”I think what we’ve seen with gaining 150,000 members in that short space of time, we are a movement,” she told GB News.She suggested Reform UK could draw support from both Labour and Conservative voters, potentially becoming “the governing party” with four and a half years until the next election.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Reform UK hit HUGE milestone as Nigel Farage’s party membership surgesReform UK ‘rattling’ Tories and Labour as Badenoch-Farage tensions escalate: ‘There is no doubt!”Apologise!’ Farage warns Badenoch of legal action after Reform shows numbers proving milestoneThe Reform UK member also praised her party’s effectiveness in opposition, stating that “Nigel and the five MPs are doing a far better job than the whole of the Conservative Party at the moment in holding Labour to account”.She specifically compared cabinet performances, noting that: “Robert Jenrick is doing a better job than Kemi actually is in holding Labour to account”.”I think that’s why they’re getting worried”, she concluded.Farage has demanded an apology from Badenoch, taking to X to ask her: “When will you apologise to me and 146,077 other members of Reform UK?”The Tory leader had posted on social media, claiming Reform’s membership counter was “coded to tick up automatically” and that “this kind of fakery gets found out pretty quickly”.The Reform UK leader said he would spend the weekend considering what action to take if Badenoch ignores his calls for an apology over the “crazy conspiracy theory”.Badenoch maintained that Farage “doesn’t understand the digital age”, dismissing Reform UK’s membership claims.”I haven’t threatened anything. I’ve just said that unless I get an apology, I will take some action,” Farage said.

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