Has Robert Jenrick gone rogue?

A curious performance in the Commons today by Robert Jenrick. The Immigration Minister has long been seen – in the press at least – as a staunch Sunakite, put in at the Home Office to keep a watchful eye on Suella Braverman. But has that all changed after thirteen months at 2 Marsham Street?

At Oral Questions this afternoon, Jenrick was asked when a plan to cut immigration will come before the Commons. Watched on by Tory backbenchers and his boss James Cleverly, Jenrick told them that ‘My plan would have been brought to the House before last Christmas if it could have been’ despite, er, insisting that he is at one with the Prime Minister on this.

It was not the only odd moment in the session. With regards to immigration rules, Jenrick declared that ‘the time for tinkering is over,’ saying that, on the current visa rules ‘it is a choice for the country as to whether we continue to pursue [allowing so many dependents into the UK]… there are different models on which we could base our visa system which would not allow so many.’