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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Martin Belam

Who said it: the Robert Jenrick memo or David Brent?

Composite of David Brent (Ricky Gervais) and Robert Jenrick
Was it the Brentmeister (left) or Robert Jenrick? Composite: BBC and PA

The fallout from Robert Jenrick’s abrupt and chaotic defection from the Conservatives to Reform UK on Thursday continued over the weekend, with the leaking of a memo prepared by his aides for how he should face the press after the event.

The six-page document coaches Jenrick on how to answer some potentially tricky questions. While it reflects the character of the man himself, it also somehow manages to channel the spirit of David Brent, the character created by Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais, and played by Gervais in the original UK version of The Office, which aired from 2001 to 2003.

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