Badenoch Mocks Tory Defectors as 'Tantrum' Politics Amid Party Crisis
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has delivered a blistering critique of former party colleagues who have recently defected to Reform UK, accusing them of engaging in what she described as 'tantrum dressed up as politics' rather than offering substantive policy alternatives.
Scathing Attack on Defectors' Motivations
In a speech delivered on Wednesday, Mrs Badenoch directly mocked recent high-profile defections from the Conservative Party, suggesting they were motivated by personal disappointment rather than political principle. 'To those who are defecting, who don't actually disagree with our policies, I will say, I'm sorry you didn't win the leadership contest,' she told a press conference.
'I'm sorry you didn't get a job in the shadow cabinet. I'm sorry you didn't get into the Lords. But you are not offering a plan to fix this country. This is a tantrum dressed up as politics,' she added, drawing a direct comparison between political defections and childish behaviour.
Recent Defections Spark Conservative Turmoil
The speech comes amid significant turmoil within the Conservative ranks following several high-profile departures:
- Former home secretary Suella Braverman defected to Reform UK on Monday, in what Mrs Badenoch described as a 'veterans event that turned into a defection rally'
- Former shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick was dramatically sacked from the Tory front bench earlier this month amid claims he had been plotting to defect
- Former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi recently joined Reform UK after reportedly unsuccessfully seeking a peerage nomination
Denouncing Westminster 'Psychodrama'
Mrs Badenoch used her platform to denounce what she called the 'psychodrama' currently dominating British politics, positioning her party as one of 'serious people' in contrast to what she labelled as 'drama queens' in both Reform UK and Labour.
'Let me be clear, the Conservative Party is going in a new direction,' she declared. 'I was not elected to reheat the party with 1990s policies and I was not elected to dismantle the party so that Nigel Farage can finally have a go.'
Questioning Reform's Governing Capability
The Conservative leader also questioned Reform UK's ability to form a credible government, making a pointed comparison about shadow cabinet sizes. 'I can actually put together a shadow cabinet bigger than four people,' she remarked, highlighting what she perceives as Reform's organisational limitations.
Mrs Badenoch emphasised that her approach was not about traditional political positioning, stating: 'And, no, this isn't about left or right, it's about right or wrong. We are right, they're all wrong.'
Clear Message to Party Dissenters
In a firm message to those within her own party who might disagree with her direction, Mrs Badenoch stated: 'The people who don't agree with this direction need to get out of the way.' She criticised those she believes are motivated by personal ambition rather than political conviction.
'There are people in politics who don't really know what they are doing or why. They just want to be in the room. They want to be on top. They want access, attention and advancement,' she said, before adding: 'When they don't get their way, they create drama.'
Building a Conservative Future
Mrs Badenoch positioned her leadership as focused on creating a Conservative Party for the future rather than rehashing past battles. 'We're about the future, not the past,' she insisted. 'We're not trying to recreate 2006 and it's not 2016 anymore. We are not refighting those battles.'
'It's 2026 and the world has changed,' she continued. 'This is about the future and I am building a Conservative Party for the next decade and the next generation.'
The speech represents a significant attempt by Mrs Badenoch to reframe the Conservative Party's identity following months of difficult polling and internal divisions, positioning herself as a leader focused on serious governance rather than political theatrics.
