Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has been accused of joining an Establishment stitch-up that made a mockery of voters in Clacton, according to political commentator Jonathan Saxty.
Writing for Express.co.uk, Saxty questioned why Badenoch did not put forward a Tory candidate against Nigel Farage in the recent by-election, describing her claim that Reform is "woke" as bizarre. He also criticised the party's refusal to allow certain former Tory MPs to stand as parliamentary candidates, contrasting it with the treatment of a former anti-Semite council candidate in Somerset.
Failed leadership and policy
Saxty noted that Badenoch had the chance to reshuffle her shadow cabinet this summer but failed to do so. He argued that Conservative policy announcements have essentially rehashed Reform ideas in watered-down form, saying voters want "the real deal" not a "pale imitation".
The commentator reminded readers that voters have not forgotten fourteen years of Tory failure, from open borders to botching Brexit. While Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman were key members of that government, he said they at least disavowed it by joining Reform.
Polling and Clacton
Saxty pointed to polling figures of 17-19% for the Conservatives, asking what failure would look like if that is considered a success. With summer recess ending, he said time has run out for the party to gain momentum.
He accused Badenoch of treating Clacton with contempt by not fielding a candidate, knowing Farage would win regardless. He said she participated in an Establishment stitch-up with a joke candidate, making a mockery of the people of the Essex constituency, and concluded that voters should not be so forgiving next time.
