9:54 pm - February 12, 2025
Kemi Badenoch has now reached the milestone of 100 days as the leader of the Conservative Party, but it would be inaccurate to describe this occasion as a celebration. Instead, it might be more fitting to say she is marking the occasion, as her tenure so far has been fraught with challenges. When Badenoch won the leadership race on November 2, 2023, defeating Robert Jenrick, she pledged to “renew” the party. However, three months into her leadership, little has changed except for a decline in the party’s opinion poll ratings and the looming threat of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, which has begun to gain momentum. Her first major policy announcement came only recently, as she unveiled plans to crack down on immigrants’ right to remain in the UK. This move was seen as both a response to internal party pressure and a reaction to Reform UK’s rise in the polls, with the party topping a Sky News/YouGov poll for the first time.
Badenoch inherited a party in disarray, with just 121 MPs remaining after a devastating election. Many of the party’s top talents, including Penny Mordaunt and James Cleverly, were no longer in the Commons, and several former ministers had retreated to the back benches. Her performances at Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) have been inconsistent. While she initially gained some traction by highlighting Labour’s past criticisms of Donald Trump, she has struggled to land significant blows on Sir Keir Starmer. Critics argue that her approach at PMQs is too scattergun, with her questions often jumping between multiple topics rather than focusing on a single issue to hold the government to account. For example, in one session, she touched on subjects ranging from the Chagos Islands to energy bills, leaving some questioning her strategy.
One of the most significant criticisms of Badenoch’s leadership is her near invisibility in the media. Insiders claim she dislikes engaging with the press and often sends shadow cabinet colleagues to speak on her behalf. When she does appear in public, her comments have sometimes caused internal friction. In a major policy speech in January, she criticized the party’s past record, including the handling of Brexit under Theresa May and Boris Johnson, as well as the failure to reduce immigration despite promises to do so. While her honesty may have been intended to signal a break from the past, it has alienated some within her own party. Additionally, her leadership style has been described as abrasive. During a recent address to staff at Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ), she reportedly told employees that if they weren’t performing, they “shouldn’t be there,” a remarks that left some in tears. Badenoch has since defended her approach, stating that tough words are sometimes necessary.
Another challenge for Badenoch is the growing influence of Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage. Farage has claimed that his party has surpassed the Conservatives in membership numbers, with Reform UK reportedly reaching over 200,000 members. This has added pressure on Badenoch to regain the initiative and stem the flow of defectors. Complicating matters further is the continued presence of her leadership rival, Robert Jenrick, who has refused to rule out a potential pact between the Conservatives and Reform UK—a idea Badenoch has emphatically rejected. Jenrick’s behavior has been interpreted by some as an attempt to undermine Badenoch’s leadership and position himself as a potential successor. This internal instability has only added to the challenges Badenoch faces as she tries to unite her divided party.
Despite these obstacles, Badenoch remains defiant and insists that she is focused on turning the party around. However, her ability to do so is increasingly being questioned. While she has shown flashes of potential, particularly in her early jabs at Sir Keir Starmer during PMQs, her overall performance has been described as a “work in progress.” The lack of a clear policy agenda and her struggles to connect with the media have only exacerbated the party’s woes. With the opposition leader, Sir Keir Starmer, benefiting from a large and vocal group of Labour backbenchers, Badenoch’s small parliamentary group has made it difficult for her to gain traction. Additionally, the charismatic and media-savvy Nigel Farage has emerged as a formidable opponent, outshining Badenoch in his role as the leader of the opposition.
Looking ahead, the next 18 months could be crucial for Badenoch’s tenure as Conservative leader. Ruth Davidson, the former Scottish Tory leader, has remarked that Badenoch may only have a limited time to turn things around before her position becomes untenable. With the pressure mounting and internal critics growing restless, Badenoch must find a way to redefine her leadership and restore confidence in the party. Her recent policy announcement on immigration was a step in that direction, but it remains to be seen whether it will be enough to stem the tide of discontent within the party and the wider electorate. For now, Badenoch’s leadership continues to be a work in progress, with her future hanging in the balance.