Jenrick described their relationship as “positive” and stated, “I respect him.” Regarding immigration, he mentioned they were “basically making the same point, which is that we’re going to abolish indefinite leave to remain.”
He continued: “If you don’t meet our economic tests, then you’re going to have to leave the country. And if you’re in social housing, it’s very, very likely that you won’t meet our economic tests because you rely on the state. So if you’re not a Brit and you’re in social housing, you’ll be given a short period to leave that housing. We have said three months.”
When asked about families with one immigrant and a partner or spouse with U.K. citizenship, or children in families housed under the current rules, Jenrick said families could find accommodation in the private sector, emphasizing priority for British citizens, who face wait-lists. “You can’t say in all good conscience [that a] British military veteran or a British victim of domestic abuse should be living on the streets or in precarious temporary accommodation,” he argued, “and then there’s somebody who’s a more recent arrival to the U.K. who’s not a British citizen who gets that housing.”
The prospect of large-scale deportations of people settled in the U.K. who cannot afford housing is one of Reform’s most controversial policies. Jenrick repeated that many would choose to leave voluntarily, and supported mass deportations if necessary.
“Will there also be the need for some people to be deported? Yes, absolutely, and that happens in every other country in the world,” he stated. “It’s a curious mindset in this country where we prioritize the interests of people who are not British citizens.”
Despite significant disagreements with his parliamentary colleagues, Jenrick maintains good relations, but prefers a drink with Starmer or Burnham to one with his Treasury rival, Chancellor Rachel Reeves. “I would go for a Burnham,” he said. “And yes, I would go for a consolation drink with Rachel Reeves … but we would have to spend a lot of time trying to find a pub that she isn’t barred from.”
Peter Snowdon contributed to this report. Listen to the full Westminster Insider interview here.
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