The Conservative Party conference in Manchester has been rocked by an extraordinary public clash between two of the party's biggest names, as Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch and former immigration minister Robert Jenrick engaged in open warfare over the party's direction.
Bitter Exchange Exposes Deep Divisions
In a remarkable display of internal conflict, Badenoch launched a scathing attack on Jenrick's conference speech, dismissing his immigration proposals as "lazy politics" that failed to address practical solutions. The Business Secretary didn't hold back, telling Times Radio that "making these kind of snappy comments without actually doing the hard policy work is not going to deliver for people."
Jenrick Fires Back with Conference Bombshell
Not to be outdone, Robert Jenrick used his own conference speech to deliver a devastating critique of the government's immigration record, directly challenging Rishi Sunak's leadership. The former minister, who resigned over the Rwanda policy, declared the Tories must offer "something fundamentally different" and warned that failing to tackle mass migration would mean "we're not going to have a country that we recognise."
Sunak's Authority Undermined
The public spat represents a significant challenge to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's authority, with both ministers effectively positioning themselves as leadership contenders. The timing couldn't be worse for the Conservatives, coming just months before an expected general election where party unity will be crucial.
Political analysts are describing the confrontation as symptomatic of a party at war with itself, torn between different ideological factions and struggling to present a united front to voters. With Badenoch representing the pragmatic wing and Jenrick appealing to the right, the battle lines for the party's future are being drawn in increasingly public fashion.
The extraordinary public disagreement raises serious questions about whether the Conservatives can heal these divisions in time to mount an effective election campaign, or whether the party is destined for further internal conflict regardless of the election outcome.
