And then, the press conference came. Farage insisted there was no imminent deal with Jenrick and that a defection, if it came at all, could be months off. Badenoch sacking Jenrick had been seen by some as evidence of her political nous, blindsiding both him and Reform. Torching this narrative and basking in his own opportunism, Farage said: “I want to say thank you to Kemi Badenoch. This is the latest Christmas present we have had. I welcome Robert Jenrick into this room and into Reform UK.” Except it was something of a wait for his latest Tory acquisition to step into the light – a vacuum Farage was forced to fill until his new champion arrived to applause. They took the applause and shared the stage, but there is an immediate question: how long will that stage be big enough for the both of them?