Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has launched a scathing attack on Reform UK and Tory defectors, urging Nigel Farage's party to redirect its fire towards Labour rather than the Conservatives. In a major speech delivered this morning, Badenoch accused Farage of 'punching us from behind and letting Labour off the hook', arguing that this strategy is diverting attention from Prime Minister Keir Starmer's struggles both domestically and internationally.
Badenoch Condemns Wave of Tory Defections
The Conservative leader blasted what she described as a wave of defections by 'drama queens' to Reform UK over the past fortnight. She claimed that high-profile figures like Robert Jenrick, Suella Braverman, and Nadhim Zahawi are engaging in what she termed a 'tantrum dressed up as politics', suggesting their moves stem from dashed personal ambitions rather than genuine policy disagreements.
Direct Message to Defectors
In what appeared to be a pointed message to Jenrick and others who have left the party, Badenoch stated: 'To those who are defecting, who don't actually disagree with our policies, I will say, I'm sorry you didn't win the leadership contest. I'm sorry you didn't get a job in the shadow cabinet. I'm sorry you didn't get into the Lords. But you are not offering a plan to fix this country. This is a tantrum dressed up as politics.'
She drew a striking analogy to parental discipline, adding: 'When my kids have a tantrum, I don't give up or change my mind. I send them to their room, and I say to everyone else, if that tantrum ever found its way into government, we would all pay the price, because just like Labour, they do not have a plan for government.'
Rejecting Centrist Appeals
Badenoch also signalled her disagreement with more centrist Conservative voices who have urged her to pursue a moderate agenda as a point of differentiation from Reform UK. This comes just days after prominent figures like Sir Andy Street and Baroness Ruth Davidson launched Prosper UK, a political movement aimed at attracting 'politically homeless' voters through a centrist approach.
Building a Conservative Future
Emphasising her vision for the party's direction, Badenoch declared: 'This is my message to them. We're about the future, not the past. We're not trying to recreate 2006 and it's not 2016 anymore. We are not refighting those battles. It's 2026 and the world has changed. This is about the future and I am building a Conservative Party for the next decade and the next generation.'
The Conservative leader reiterated this forward-looking stance, stating: 'We're not trying to recreate 2006, and it's not 2016 any more. We aren't refighting those battles. It's 2026 and the world has changed. This is about the future. I am building a Conservative Party for the next decade and the next generation. It's time to move on.'
Call for New Conservative Army
In a significant appeal, Badenoch called for a new 'army' of Conservative candidates who genuinely want to represent the party, suggesting a recruitment drive focused on loyalty and shared vision rather than personal ambition. This move appears designed to counter the recent defections and strengthen the party's grassroots ahead of future electoral challenges.
The speech represents a bold attempt by Badenoch to regain control of the political narrative, positioning the Conservatives as the party of the future while dismissing both Reform UK and internal dissent as distractions from the real battle against Labour.
