Just three months into her leadership, Tories are growing frustrated with Ms Badenoch – with speculation growing that her own MPs could “do what they do best” as soon as the May local elections
Kemi Badenoch’s team were in chaos today, ducking out of a weekly press briefing after her “dismal” performance at PMQs.
Frustrations are growing on the Tory backbenches that Ms Badenoch is not up to the job – showing up to the Commons seemingly unprepared and is surrounded by “yes men”.
“I think she’s got until the local elections before Tory MPs do what they do best – start to plot and see her removed,” one Tory insider said.
Last week Ms Badenoch reportedly angered Tory staff when she said they needed to “do better” in a speech. And her team were forced to deny claims she’d called a “crisis meeting” last week over the Conservative Party’s disastrous polling numbers – and dwindling cash reserves.
Today, the Tory leader was left on the hop as Keir Starmer batted away questions on immigration. Mr Starmer mocked the Leader of the Opposition, saying she was badly prepared and unable to deviate from her “script” – as she asked prepared questions regardless of the answer.
Tory backbenchers looked glum as Ms Badenoch took her seat – with even Mr Starmer fuming “this is tedious”. And Ms Badenoch’s team didn’t turn up to a briefing for journalists, held weekly after PMQs finishes in the Commons.
Mr Starmer’s press secretary said: “If I were them I wouldn’t follow that either.”
It’s the third time the team have skipped the “huddle” in the three months since she became Leader of the Opposition. Asked how they thought Ms Badenoch was doing, one former Tory advisor replied to the Mirror with a facepalm emoji.
“She’s getting worse with every week. Her questions are too long. She’s not focused on issues normal people are talking about,” they said. “PMQs is a national platform and she blows it every week focusing on the wrong issues.”
A Labour source said: “That PMQs was a total disaster for her. She is just dismal.”
The Mirror understands Ms Badenoch’s spokesman is on holiday. The Commons is on recess next week.
His deputy did not respond to a request for comment.
A YouGov poll this week found 48% of Tory voters don’t see Ms Badenoch as a PM in waiting – with a third of Brits saying she’s done a poor job as leader so far.