Only these days most of the Tory party would bite someone’s hand off to be second. Instead, they find themselves regularly languishing in third place – behind both Nigel Farage’s Reform and Keir Starmer’s Labour Party.
It means Kemi Badenoch’s leadership is attracting increased scrutiny despite being her little more than 100 days in. Even as MPs take time out during the parliamentary recess, they are discussing what – or who – might turn their fortunes around. The next election may be several years away but the Conservatives already worry that without action they’ll be left in the political wilderness.
The message of Badenoch’s supporters is to remain calm: “Cut her some slack and give her time,” says one MP. Others are less patient. Tory MPs have been sharing round a segment in the Popbitch gossip email – claiming that “disgruntled” aides have been heard complaining in the watering holes of SW1 that she “really doesn’t like being asked to do much before lunch”. Her supporters dismiss this as fictional tittle tattle but it’s perhaps no coincidence that Badenoch’s internal critics have lately been talking about the “hard work” exhibited by other members of the Shadow Cabinet. “Rob [Jenrick] is always out and about. His social media is active and he puts a lot of work in,” says one MP. “It is something to be admired.”
Oh, Kemi – it was all going so well
Read More“The ranking is basically proportionate to how hard everyone is working,” says one party figure.
Inside the Shadow Cabinet, there are plans to up the momentum. Badenoch – inspired by her Conservative contemporaries abroad such as Pierre Poilievre in Canada – has recently embarked on more long-form podcast interviews. The view is a long discussion on beliefs plays to her strengths over the more “gotcha” style journalism of short interviews.
It’s why there are plans to get Badenoch out on the road more in the coming months across the UK. Next are the much talked about policy commissions. Each shadow cabinet member will lead one. The hope is that they will be at launch phase by Easter – the most talked about is likely to be shadow Home Secretary’s Chris Philp.
But the rise of Reform means that more Tories are talking about a potential electoral pact. While Farage has ruled the idea out, many think some kind of agreement could be possible – but don’t think Badenoch would ever consider a deal. It’s why Badenoch needs to show a path to the party rising in the polls and being able to take the fight to Labour on her own terms. If she doesn’t, her critics will say the only answer is a deal or merger – whether she likes it or not.
Katy Balls is political editor at ‘The Spectator’
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