Robert Jenrick mocked for attacking policy he once championed

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 11:58 · Archive

Robert Jenrick has been mocked for criticising a government crackdown on rip-off parking charges that he himself tried to implement as a minister.

Robert Jenrick, Reform UK's treasury spokesman and a former Conservative who defected to the party earlier this year, criticised a government crackdown on rip-off parking charges announced by Andy Burnham. In a post on X, Jenrick said the country was 'going down the pan' and questioned what point Burnham served if he refused to tackle bigger issues like the benefits bill.

The package of measures includes a 10-minute grace period for motorists to leave a car park after their paid session ends without being fined. Under the government's plans, drivers will have the right to have charges cancelled on appeal for honest mistakes such as briefly stopping to check directions or a medical emergency. Those who make mistakes such as forgetting parking permits will face a maximum charge of £20 on appeal.

It soon emerged that Jenrick himself had announced similar parking reform plans in 2020, when he was communities secretary in Boris Johnson's government. His proposal included the same 10-minute grace period. At the time he said the measures were 'a victory for the millions of motorists across the country'. Housing secretary Angela Rayner pointed out the contradiction. A Labour source told HuffPost UK that Jenrick was 'disingenuously complain[ing] about the government taking action against something that he himself tried, but then utterly failed, to take action against when he was in government'.

How it is being reported

• Robert Jenrick suffers embarrassing blunder after asking Reform UK voters if they workJenrick set out to prove Reform UK is the party of working people… and failed (Picture: Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images) Robert Jenrick suffered an embarrassing gaffe when he asked an audience of Reform UK members to stand up if they work – revealing only a small number of attendees do. The party’s…Metro · 21 Oct, 11:45
• 'A Total Embarrassment': Robert Jenrick Mocked For Criticising Policy He Tried To Bring InReform Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick speaks at a press conference last week. Robert Jenrick has been mocked after he attacked a government policy he tried to implement when he was a minister. The former Tory, who defected to Reform earlier this year, criticised a crackdown on rip-off parking charges announced by Andy Burnham . The package of measures include a 10-minute grace period for motorists to leave a car park after their session ends without being fined. In a post on X, Jenrick said: “The country is going down the pan and our prime minister is faffing around tweaking parking…HuffPost UK · 20 Oct, 13:24

In this story: Robert Jenrick · Andy Burnham · Angela Rayner · Reform UK · Labour

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem