John Major called Jenkins a "gregarious man of lively wit and great charm, and an undisputed master of his profession", and David Owen said he was "an exceptional journalist with a deep understanding of the Labour movement".
dʒˈɑːn mˈeɪdʒɚ kˈɔːld dʒˈɛŋkɪnz ˈeɪ "ɡɹɛɡˈɛɹiəs mˈæn ʌv lˈaɪvli wˈɪt ænd ɡɹˈeɪt tʃˈɑːɹm, ænd ɐn ʌndɪspjˈuːɾᵻd mˈæstɚɹ ʌv hɪz pɹəfˈɛʃən", ænd dˈeɪvɪd ˈoʊɪn sˈɛd hiː wʌz "ɐn ɛksˈɛpʃənəl dʒˈɜːnəlˌɪst wɪð ɐ dˈiːp ˌʌndɚstˈændɪŋ ʌvðə lˈeɪbɚ mˈuːvmənt".