Cabinet heavyweight Kemi Badenoch has delivered a stark reality check to her Conservative colleagues, warning that any attempt to oust Rishi Sunak before the next general election would likely prove catastrophic for the party's prospects.
In a brutal assessment of the Tories' current predicament, the Business Secretary suggested that "changing the leader now would be the worst thing we could do" despite growing discontent among backbenchers about the party's dismal polling numbers.
Unity or Oblivion: The Choice Facing Conservatives
Badenoch's intervention comes amid increasing speculation that right-wing MPs might attempt to force a leadership contest following the departure of immigration hardliner Robert Jenrick from government. Jenrick resigned as immigration minister, declaring he could no longer support Sunak's Rwanda legislation which he deemed "not sufficiently robust".
The Business Secretary didn't mince words when assessing the potential consequences of another internal power struggle: "We tried changing leaders multiple times and it hasn't worked. The public are fed up with it."
Jenrick's Departure Fuels Leadership Speculation
Robert Jenrick's dramatic exit from government has sent shockwaves through Westminster, with many interpreting his resignation as positioning himself for a future leadership bid. His departure letter contained scathing criticism of Sunak's approach to stopping small boat crossings, stating the proposed legislation "does not go far enough" and represents a "triumph of hope over experience."
However, Badenoch cautioned against reading too much into leadership manoeuvring, emphasising that the Conservative Party must present a united front or face electoral annihilation.
The Ghost of Leadership Contests Past
The Conservative Party has endured significant turmoil in recent years, cycling through three different prime ministers since the 2019 general election. This revolving door of leadership has, according to Badenoch, severely damaged the party's credibility with voters.
"The public want to see us governing, not focusing on ourselves," she stated, adding that another internal contest would be "incredibly damaging" to the party's already battered reputation.
With the general election looming and Labour maintaining a commanding lead in the polls, Badenoch's warning serves as both a reality check and a rallying cry for Conservative MPs to put aside internal divisions and focus on the challenges ahead.
