Britain’s Conservative Party, which governed the country from 2010 until it suffered its worst-ever electoral defeat two years ago, was plunged into fresh turmoil Thursday after its leader sacked the man widely seen as her greatest rival for apparently plotting to defect from the party.

The populist Reform party is suing the UK government, challenging proposals that may delay local elections, according to a court order.

A Reform UK staffer grabbed a journalist and tried to shut down his line of questioning while he was interviewing the new Reform leader in Scotland, Malcolm Offord. The Reform aide physically intervened in an interview that ITV’s Peter Smith was carrying out with Offord.

Announcement of Robert Jenrick's move announced hours after his sacking by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch for 'plotting' to defect to Reform in a 'damaging' way

Reform UK has grown from a fringe euroskeptic movement into a major force in British politics. By railing against immigration and the rising cost of living, the party led by Brexit figurehead Nigel Farage has siphoned support from the governing Labour party and Conservative opposition to fracture the old two-party system.

Two Stoke-on-Trent city councillors have deserted the Conservatives to become part of the latest wave of 20 nationally in defecting to Reform UK. Reform now have four out of the 44 seats on the authority,

Robert Jenrick’s defection represents a significant sign of fracturing in one of the world’s most consistently successful political parties.

To voters up and down the country, Reform has sought to cast itself as an insurgent, anti-establishment party. At the same time, it has been quietly building relationships with financial giants in the City of London and some of the UK’s most influential lobbying agencies, whose clients include blue-chip multinational corporations.