Kemi Badenoch’s secret machinations against Rishi Sunak revealed
Kemi Badenoch reportedly attempted to undermine former Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ahead of the last general election, according to a new book by political biographer Sir Anthony Seldon. The claims suggest that Badenoch harboured no respect for Sunak, viewing him as rude and plotting to remove him from leadership without overtly challenging him, reports BritPanorama.
Badenoch, who succeeded Sunak as Tory leader following the 2024 election, was allegedly involved in covert activities aimed at sparking a leadership challenge while Sunak’s administration faced significant pressures, including cabinet resignations over immigration issues. Seldon asserts that her disloyal actions significantly contributed to the Conservative Party’s electoral defeat.
Relations between the two figures were reportedly strained. Seldon outlines how Badenoch engaged with rebel Tory MPs in 2023 after Sunak declined her requests for stricter immigration reforms. After this encounter, Sunak expressed frustrations, suggesting that some party members were deliberately provoking conflict within the party.
In his book, Sunak at 10: The Last Conservative PM?, Seldon describes Badenoch as feeling justified in her harsh views of Sunak. She suggested that if dissenting MPs gained sufficient support, she would issue an ultimatum, stating her intent to resign if he did not acquiesce. Several insiders reported that Badenoch and her allies had been contemplating a cabinet revolt against Sunak since December 2023.
She was noted to have reached out to various cabinet ministers to gauge interest in a leadership change while carefully managing her public image to avoid being seen as directly antagonistic. According to a member of Sunak’s cabinet, her conduct raised concerns about her loyalty and professionalism.
Former Tory MP Danny Kruger, now with Reform, remarked that while Badenoch aimed to displace Sunak, she was wary of becoming a “fag-end prime minister.” Seldon argues her hesitation to challenge Sunak was grounded in the approaching election and fears of being blamed for an imminent party defeat.
Additionally, Seldon claimed calculations within the Tory ranks, driven by figures like Badenoch, contributed to Labour’s decisive victory in the last election. He noted that Badenoch was engaged in hypothetical discussions around forming alternative cabinet positions while she manipulated the party dynamics to her advantage.
Sunak, frustrated by the internal divisions, reportedly lashed out at what he perceived as attention-seeking behaviour from rebel Conservatives, asserting that he had a country to run rather than engage in party strife.
Badenoch has consistently denied any disloyalty to Sunak, maintaining that her political ambitions were part of her broader commitment to the party. The ongoing internal struggles within the Conservative Party raise questions about its future direction and leadership integrity.
As internal tensions within the party mount, these revelations illuminate the complexities beneath a facade of unity, underscoring the challenges facing Conservative leadership going forward.
