A candidate from the Reform party took aim at Robert Jenrick’s use of weight loss medication and cautioned that the party could risk turning into a mere imitation of the Conservative Party.
Matt Goodwin, running for Reform in Gorton and Denton, ridiculed Mr. Jenrick for relying on Ozempic for weight loss, stating, “You can take an injection for weight loss but you can’t take an injection for personality.” Mr. Jenrick, a former prominent figure in the Conservative Party who switched to Reform recently, has openly discussed his use of the medication to shed excess weight.
In a statement last May, Mr. Goodwin remarked, “The issue with Jenrick is that, as someone once pointed out, you can take an injection for weight loss but not for personality. I believe there is an underlying problem there. Two key aspects about Jenrick are his lack of charisma and his overestimation of his strength.”
Just four months earlier, Mr. Goodwin expressed concerns about the detrimental impact of admitting too many former Tories into the party. Nevertheless, Reform has embraced 11 additional ex-Tory MPs, including Mr. Jenrick and former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, into its fold since then.
Highlighting the potential pitfalls, Mr. Goodwin wrote for ConservativeWoman in September, cautioning, “If the party absorbs too many ex-Tories, it may quickly resemble a Tory copycat, reintroducing individuals who nearly caused our country’s downfall to have another go at it all over again.”
In November, Mr. Goodwin criticized the Tories and Mr. Jenrick as a “complete farce,” asserting, “If you entrusted an architect with your home and they ruined it, you wouldn’t invite them back.”
Responding to these statements, Labour MP Andrew Western remarked, “Matthew Goodwin claimed to be tired of Farage filling his party with unsuccessful Tories, yet he chose to join them. It’s unbelievable.”
Western continued, “Goodwin himself acknowledged that these are the same Tories who failed Britain previously and would likely do so again through Reform. Goodwin would facilitate their efforts – using Gorton and Denton as a model for the havoc they would spread elsewhere.”
Adding further perspective, Western noted, “It’s important to recognize that Goodwin is supported by Tommy Robinson and aims to exploit his divisive politics to create rifts among communities in Manchester. Only a vote for Labour’s Angeliki Stogia can advance Gorton and Denton in unity and prevent Farage’s divisive tactics from tearing local communities apart.”
A spokesperson for Reform commented, “Matt made these remarks when Robert Jenrick was a Conservative MP as part of the robust political discourse in Britain. The fact that Matt, who has never been affiliated with the Tories, is now our candidate in the Gorton & Denton by-election speaks volumes about how Reform is gaining support from individuals across various political backgrounds.”
