From centrist to hardliner Tory leadership hopeful Jenrick reinvents himself for the top job

In June 2014, the Conservative party won an unexpectedly comfortable victory in the Newark byelection.

- Eleni Courea, Rowena Mason

It was a triumph for David Cameron over Nigel Farage, who had spied an opportunity to install the first Ukip MP. The winner and face of Cameroon's success in Newark was 32-year-old Robert Jenrick.

Ten years later, in May 2024, as he prepared to position himself for the Conservative leadership following Rishi Sunak's impending election defeat, Jenrick said that were it up to him, he would gladly welcome Farage into the fold.

"I would have no problem with him being a member of the Conservative party," Jenrick told Sky News. "I want the Conservative party to be one which is the natural home for anyone who shares my determination to tackle issues like illegal and legal migration." Those who know Jenrick - who has mounted an unflinchingly rightwing campaign to become the Conservative leader - say that for most of his political career he was a middle-of-the-road Tory. It is a remarkable transformation.

Anna Soubry, formerly a neighbouring Tory MP who was heavily involved in his byelection campaign said: "He was a full-fat subscriber to David Cameron in 2014. He trims his sails to suit whichever political wind is blowing within the Conservative party." Last week Jenrick held a launch event in his constituency where he put cutting migration at the centre of his pitch. This week, he sparked uproar by saying that any protester who says "Allahu Akbar" should be arrested. This was considered by many as a deliberate attempt to ingratiate himself with Tory party members who are sympathetic to Farage and Reform. "He is the credible face of Reform-leaning Conservatism," said a Tory centrist who lost their seat this summer.