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Kemi Badenoch has fired a warning shot at Tory plotters, vowing those who try to "undermine or destroy" the party will be "dealt with firmly and fairly". The Conservative leader issued the rallying cry in a powerful letter to MPs obtained by the Daily Express ahead of tonight's crunch meeting of the secretive 1922 Committee.

Writing after two MPs, Robert Jenrick and Andrew Rosindell, made the leap to Reform, Mrs Badenoch insisted the party is now "stronger and more united" following their departures. She declared: "A party that is ruthlessly focused on being effective, holding the government to account and creating a plan for the country cannot also spend its time on psychodrama and intrigue. That behaviour will not be tolerated."

The Tory leader branded the defections a matter of "character" rather than ideology as she struck down suggestions the party is abandoning the Right. She wrote: "These defections are not about policy differences or ideology; they are about character. We are THE party of the right and must remain so."

In a scathing takedown, Mrs Badenoch revealed Jenrick had "resolved to leave some time ago" but continued to "attend meetings, sit around the table, and present himself as part of a collective effort". She told MPs: "Trust and teamwork are not optional in a serious political party that is looking to get into government."

The letter comes as Mrs Badenoch moves to draw a line under a turbulent week that saw two sitting MPs jump ship to Nigel Farage's insurgent party. She insisted: "The events of recent days are a minor setback, not a defining moment."

Taking aim at Reform, the Conservative leader dismissed the party as having "more internal contradiction and ideological incoherence" following the defections. She wrote: "They are not a centre-right party. They are a populist party with one or two right-wing ideas overshadowed by a desire for big state solutions we simply cannot afford."

Mrs Badenoch warned: "Taking on more defectors with similarly incoherent outlooks will create problems for them soon enough." On Mr Rosindell's defection, she said: "While we are also sad to hear of the defection of Andrew Rosindell, we all know he had his difficulties and his reasons for leaving because of the Chagos vote in the Lords do not stand up to scrutiny given the bill is not concluded and Reform's sole peer in the Lords also declined to vote."

She added: "Those who remember Andrew's confected row last October, with false claims that we were not singing the national anthem at party conference, will understand that he was looking for reasons to leave." The Tory leader also issued a stark warning about staff loyalty, writing: "It is clear however that a small number of individuals were actively briefing against the party while presenting themselves as Conservative sources."

She told MPs: "I ask everyone to satisfy themselves that their staff are acting in line with our strategy and values. Undermining the party from within, whether by MPs or by staff, is unacceptable." But Mrs Badenoch struck an upbeat tone about the party's future, insisting the strategy is working despite "occasional setbacks".

She wrote: "Our party is stronger and more united now. We are a team that wants to talk to voters, not just to ourselves or online echo chambers." The Conservative leader vowed: "Differences of opinion are part of a healthy party. But there is a clear line between disagreement and trying to damage the party from within. Those who cannot be part of a Conservative Party that is changing in this way are free to make other choices. Those who want to undermine or destroy the party will be dealt with firmly and fairly."

She concluded with a rallying cry to her MPs, writing: "I am excited about what lies ahead in 2026, the progress we will make together, and the positive news we will deliver." The letter will be closely scrutinised by MPs gathering for tonight's 1922 Committee meeting as Mrs Badenoch seeks to shore up support following the defections.