Westminster was rocked by a extraordinary public clash between senior cabinet ministers today, as Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch directly contradicted claims made by Home Secretary Suella Braverman about a new government broadcast channel.
In a stunning rebuke that exposes the deepening fractures within the Conservative Party, Badenoch took to social media to dismiss Braverman's announcement that the government would launch its own television channel. The Home Secretary had made the claim during a speech at the National Conservatism conference in London.
Ministerial Discord Goes Public
The very public disagreement represents a significant breach of cabinet collective responsibility, with one secretary of state openly challenging the assertions of another. Political observers noted this rare display of internal conflict suggests mounting tensions within government ranks.
Braverman, a prominent figure on the party's right wing, told conference attendees that the government would establish its own channel to communicate directly with the public. However, within hours, Badenoch categorically denied these plans were in motion.
Social Media Showdown
The Business Secretary's intervention came via a post on X (formerly Twitter), where she simply stated: "Just to be clear. There is no government channel. The media is and should remain independent of government."
This direct contradiction highlights the increasingly public nature of policy disagreements within the Conservative Party as it struggles with poor polling numbers ahead of the next general election.
Broader Implications for Sunak's Leadership
The very public spat raises serious questions about Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's control over his cabinet and the party's messaging. With such senior figures openly contradicting each other, the government's ability to present a united front appears increasingly compromised.
Political analysts suggest this incident reflects broader ideological divisions within the Conservative Party, particularly between different factions vying for influence and potentially positioning themselves for future leadership contests.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport declined to comment on the disagreement, while representatives for both ministers have been approached for further clarification on the conflicting statements.
