'A Total Embarrassment': Robert Jenrick Mocked For Criticising Policy He Tried To Bring In

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 tickets. What is the point in Burnham if he refuses to touch the big issues like the ballooning benefits bill?”

But it soon emerged that Jenrick himself had announced similar plans in 2020, when he was communities secretary in Boris Johnson’s government.

They included the same 10-minute grace period announced by Labour.

Jenrick said at the time: “These new measures are a victory for the millions of motorists across the country.”

Housing secretary Angela Rayner was among those who pointed out Jenrick’s gaffe.

A Labour source told HuffPost UK: “It’s nothing if not on brand for Jenrick to disingenuously complain about the government taking action against something that he himself tried, but then utterly failed, to take action against when he was in government.

“He’s a total embarrassment.”

Under the government’s plans, drivers will have the right to have charges cancelled on appeal for honest mistakes, such as stopping briefly to check directions, a medical emergency or a broken ticket machine.

Drivers who make mistakes such as forgetting parking permits or entering a vehicle registration wrong will face a maximum charge of £20 on appeal.

Burnham said: “Being a few minutes late back to your car or typing one digit of your numberplate wrong shouldn’t end with a hefty fine landing on your doormat.

“These charges leave people feeling ripped off and out of pocket, so I’m putting a stop to them.”

Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.