In a dramatic escalation of the Conservative Party's internal warfare, senior cabinet minister Kemi Badenoch has openly called for former Prime Minister Liz Truss to resign from the party. The stunning intervention comes amid mounting fears that Truss's actions are actively encouraging Tory MPs and members to defect to Nigel Farage's insurgent Reform UK.
Badenoch, the Business Secretary and a leading figure on the party's right, did not mince her words. She stated that Truss's behaviour is causing significant "damage" to the Conservatives and that her departure would be in the "best interest" of the party she once led.
A Public Rebuke from a Party Heavyweight
The public call for a former leader to quit is a virtually unprecedented move in modern British politics, highlighting the depth of panic and division within Tory ranks. Badenoch's remarks signal that the party's top brass believes Truss has become a liability, whose association with hardline libertarian groups and flirtation with Reform's agenda is muddying the Conservatives' message.
The tension erupted into the open following Truss's attendance at a major populist gathering in the United States, where she shared a platform with figures closely aligned with Farage. Her activities there were seen by many in Westminster as a tacit endorsement of Reform's platform, further blurring the lines between the two parties.
The Spectre of a Mass Defection
At the heart of the crisis is a genuine terror among the Conservative leadership that Truss could become a catalyst for a wave of defections. Reform UK has already successfully poached Lee Anderson, the former Tory deputy chairman, and there are persistent rumours that other MPs and significant donors are considering following suit.
Badenoch's blunt assessment suggests the leadership would rather lose one high-profile but disruptive former PM than face a haemorrhaging of MPs, members, and financial backers to a rival party on their right flank. The fear is that Truss provides a figurehead and a sense of legitimacy for those contemplating jumping ship.
This very public airing of the party's dirty laundry underscores the profound identity crisis gripping the Conservatives. With an election looming, the party is caught between trying to present a united, moderate front to the electorate while simultaneously battling a civil war against its own rebellious faction, which feels increasingly drawn to Reform's uncompromising stance.
