Robert Jenrick accuses Kemi Badenoch of telling 'pack of lies' about Giorgia Meloni: 'Embarrassing!'

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A party official insisted Giorgia Meloni has no hostility towards Nigel Farage or Reform UK

Robert Jenrick has launched a scathing attack on Kemi Badenoch after the Tory leader appeared to retract claims she made about her meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Speaking to GB News, the Reform UK Treasury Spokesman took aim at the Conservative leader's "very embarrassing" U-turn.

It was reported on Monday that Ms Meloni had urged Mrs Badenoch to "be your own woman and stand your ground" against Nigel Farage's surging party.

However, on Tuesday the Italians pushed back on their Prime Minister's alleged comments, with a party official insisting Ms Meloni has "no hostility" to Nigel Farage or Reform UK.

The climbdown came after the two party leaders met on Monday for an hour-long coffee date in Rome. During the get-together, Ms Meloni was alleged to have told the Tory leader "you've got to be yourself".

Reacting to the fallout, Mr Jenrick told GB News that it is a "very embarrassing" situation for Mrs Badenoch.

He said: "Well, of course it's very, very embarrassing for Kemi Badenoch. Well, we wait to see who's given her advice today on how to handle Reform.

"Is it going to be Elvis Presley, Lord Lucan, Shergar. Who knows?"

The Reform MP warned Mrs Badenoch of the consequences of claiming something that is a "pack of lies".

He fumed: "The lesson is, if you go to meet a world leader, don't make up a pack of lies about what they said afterwards.

"It's just going to come and rebound on you very, very badly."

Turning to Reform UK policy, Mr Jenrick detailed the party's plans to "get off the backs" of British workers and "back small businesses".

He told GB News: "Small businesses are the absolute lifeblood of our economy, it's where almost half of people work. Every small business matters. They're the businesses that will grow into the big businesses, that will employ thousands of people and be flagship firms for our country.

"But they have been battered in recent times by massive increases in tax and regulation and by politicians who, frankly, don't know anything about how to found, to build, to manage a business. Just look at the present cabinet, where almost nobody has any private sector experience whatsoever. Reform is different."

Mr Jenrick revealed: "We're setting out a comprehensive plan to back those businesses, to get off their backs, to enable entrepreneurs of small businesses to be able to get on and do the things that they want to do and build the businesses that they've always dreamt of.

"It's going to include a number of important things. Number one, we're going to raise the VAT threshold from £90,000 to £150,000. We're going to say that if your employees want to do some extra hours, do some overtime, they're not going to pay any income tax on that whatsoever.

"And we're going to get rid of Rachel Reeves's job destroying employers National Insurance increase, and ensure that that's paid for by a levy on foreign workers, so the businesses are doing the right thing, backing British workers are going to get a massive pay cut."

The Reform spokesman also vowed to remove "crazy EU data laws" to ensure a smoother online operation for small businesses.

He concluded: "We're going to get rid of the crazy EU data laws, GDPR, that are the bane of small businesses and people across the country. When you go onto those websites and have to press to accept or reject those cookies, no more of that nonsense.

"We're going to stop gold plating EU rules and regulations and go for simple light touch rules that protect people's privacy, but help businesses to get on and do the thing that they should be doing. Providing goods and services to people and making money for their employees and their founders."