Conservative members are smitten with Kemi Badenoch after her party conference performance, with hopes rising that she can defeat Labour and Reform UK to reach Downing Street. The Tory leader electrified her party conference in Birmingham this week, with unity in the air and the party betting on their current leader.
A 'Kemi crush' among the shadow cabinet
The admiration was evident earlier this summer at a glitzy Conservative fundraiser in London's Raffle's Hotel, once the historic Old War Office, themed to celebrate "British Heroes." A female member of the shadow cabinet confessed: "I have a Kemi crush. We all do."
Midway through the evening, Badenoch, dressed in a shimmering Boudica-inspired dress, spoke to the political editor as she met wealthy party donors. The shadow minister expanded on her admiration: "She's absolutely wonderful. She's a great leader, speaks her mind and is so personable. I have a Kemi crush - that's what I call it. We all do."
Two battles for modern Britain
Boudica was a queen of the ancient British Iceni tribe who led a failed uprising against the Roman Empire around 2,000 years ago, considered a national heroine and a symbol of the struggle for justice and independence. Badenoch, the article notes, is fighting two battles for modern-day Britain: one to defeat a Labour government lurching further to the Left under Andy Burnham, and another to see off the right-wing populism of Nigel Farage's Reform UK.
She is faring well so far, meticulously rebuilding the Conservatives from a crushing general election defeat two years ago. The Tories are currently in third place in the polls behind their main rivals, but there is enough hope within the party to suggest a full recovery isn't out of the question.
Conference triumph and next steps
Kemi even now calls herself the captain, coach and owner of the Conservatives. She was everywhere this week, even showing up for a picture at the Express stand. Earlier that day, over a coffee - she was actually drinking hot water with honey to soothe her throat - on the 22nd floor of the city's Hyatt Regency hotel, she told the Express editor she is happy with the mood in the party, but admitted much more needs to be done to see off both Burnham and Farage.
Her big speech on Wednesday, in which she announced major promises to cut inheritance tax, has won many plaudits. But politics doesn't stand still, and it's back to the grind of Westminster next week. The good news is that Zack Polanski won't be there after losing out in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.
There's a Budget coming up in just over a fortnight which will define the Burnham government for the rest of this parliament. Talk of an early election hasn't gone away either. Senior Tory sources said they were expecting the Prime Minister to call one during his conference speech in Liverpool. "We thought our conference would be shaped by responding to that," they said. It never materialised, which meant the bottles of "Bottler Burnham" water were on full show. But many believe that a national vote will come sooner rather than later.
