The UK Conservative Party is contemplating replacing Kemi Badenoch as leader, just six months after she succeeded Rishi Sunak. Over two dozen Tory MPs and officials told Bloomberg that they doubt Badenoch’s ability to lead the party into the next general election, scheduled for 2029. Quiet support is shifting toward right-wing shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick as a potential successor.
This unrest comes amid disappointing poll results and growing frustration over Badenoch’s inability to revive Tory fortunes, especially as Nigel Farage’s Reform Party gains traction. Although Jenrick recently expressed support for Badenoch in a GB News interview, insiders suggest the tide is turning against her.
The upcoming local elections on Thursday are expected to exacerbate the crisis. Analysts predict a near-total wipeout for the Tories, following their historic defeat in last year’s general election. Current polling shows the party trailing behind Labour and even Reform, casting serious doubts on Badenoch’s leadership.
Initially, party figures had hoped to give Badenoch until 2026 to turn things around, but crushing losses could trigger an earlier leadership challenge. A senior Tory insider described her as being in the “political death zone,” with both donors and MPs already planning her future.
Badenoch’s leadership has been tumultuous. While she scored a legal victory defining women by biological sex, critics argue she has focused too much on culture war issues, neglecting crime and immigration. Her performances at Prime Minister’s Questions have also been seen as lackluster, allowing Labour leader Keir Starmer to gain easy victories.
With donor support dwindling and staff cuts looming, Badenoch’s leadership appears increasingly precarious, and her time at the helm may be running out.
