With the Conservative Party dealing with internal fractures and public defections, Kemi Badenoch is making it clear she has no intention of softening her stance or losing focus.
Speaking this week, the Tory leader struck a defiant tone, insisting she will stay firmly on course and continue challenging Labour—no matter who chooses to walk away or try to reshape the party from within.
Badenoch Shrugs Off Defections to Reform
Addressing the growing list of Conservative MPs defecting to Nigel Farage’s Reform party, Badenoch dismissed their exits as little more than political theatrics.
She compared the high-profile departures to children “having tantrums” and doubled down on her belief that the Conservatives remain “the only party of the right.”
Her remarks followed a turbulent fortnight that saw former home secretary Suella Braverman cross the floor to Reform, becoming the third sitting Tory MP to do so in under two weeks.
Fallout From High-Profile Exits
The defections have come thick and fast.
Badenoch had already removed Robert Jenrick from his role as shadow justice secretary and stripped him of the Tory whip after discovering plans for a defection she said were deliberately designed to hurt the party.
Days later, Romford MP Andrew Rosindell resigned the Conservative whip, while former chancellor Nadim Zahawi defected after reportedly being denied a peerage—an account the Conservatives have stood by.
“A Tantrum Dressed Up as Politics”
Badenoch reserved her sharpest words for colleagues she believes are leaving for personal reasons rather than principle.
In a blistering critique, she suggested many defectors are motivated by frustration rather than ideology.
She said those walking away often don’t fundamentally oppose Conservative policies but are bitter about losing leadership contests, missing out on shadow cabinet roles, or failing to secure positions in the House of Lords.
According to Badenoch, that frustration is now being repackaged as political conviction.
“This is a tantrum dressed up as politics,” she said, accusing some politicians of craving attention, influence, and advancement—and stirring up drama when they don’t get their way.
A Clear Line on Conservative Identity
For Badenoch, the solution is straightforward: return to core Conservative principles and stop apologising for them.
She stressed that the party needs people committed to fixing the country, not individuals uncomfortable with its new direction.
Her message was blunt—those who don’t want to be Conservatives are free to leave.
“We only want Conservatives,” she said, reinforcing her determination to steer the party without compromise.
Reform’s Rising Profile and Mixed Signals
While Badenoch has joked that Farage is doing her “spring cleaning” by welcoming MPs who had already been “repeatedly sacked from government,” polling suggests Reform may be benefiting from the chaos.
A recent YouGov survey found that one in nine Britons now view Reform more favourably following the defections.
Among those who voted Conservative in the 2024 general election, nearly a quarter said the recent moves have improved their perception of Farage’s party.
Farage himself has seized on the figures, claiming they show Reform’s appeal is widening—even as other polls suggest support for his party may be levelling off.
He described years of Conservative government as a “psychodrama” and declared the party finished.
Rejecting the Past, Warning the Centrists
Badenoch, however, insists her leadership is about looking forward, not reliving old internal battles from the mid-2000s or the Brexit era.
That stance has put her at odds with senior Conservatives pushing a different vision.
This week saw figures such as Sir Andy Street and Baroness Ruth Davidson launch “Prospect,” a new group aimed at dragging the party back toward the political centre to attract what they call “politically homeless” voters.
Badenoch was unimpressed, warning that factional movements and internal groupings are unhelpful at a time when unity is badly needed.
Veterans, Labour, and a Call for an Apology
Beyond party politics, Badenoch also turned her fire on Labour, urging the Prime Minister to apologise for his role in pursuing criminal investigations against British soldiers wrongly accused of causing deaths in Iraq.
She described the prolonged legal harassment of veterans as a “complete disgrace” and accused Labour figures, including Sir Keir Starmer and Attorney General Lord Hermer, of siding with those acting against Britain’s national interest.
Her message to veterans was unequivocal: the Conservative Party, she said, will always stand behind those who risked their lives in service of the country.
What Comes Next for the Conservatives?
With defections continuing, Reform gaining attention, and centrist voices pushing back, Badenoch’s leadership is entering a defining phase.
Whether her uncompromising approach steadies the party or deepens existing cracks remains an open question—but one thing is clear: she has no intention of changing course.
Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn