Wayne Lumbasi
The first Black woman to lead a major British political party, Kemi Badenoch made history when she took the reins of the Conservatives after their crushing 2024 election defeat. Bold, outspoken, and seen as a symbol of a new generation of Tory politics, she promised to rebuild her party and restore its credibility. But less than a year later, her leadership faces growing rejection from within.
A new YouGov poll of Conservative members shows that 50% believe Badenoch should not lead the party into the next general election, while 46% still back her. The figures reveal deep unease in Tory ranks and a leadership crisis that refuses to fade.
Though 70% of members still view her favourably, many doubt her ability to reconnect with the wider public or counter the growing influence of Reform UK.
Her leadership rival, Robert Jenrick, is quietly gaining ground, with nearly half of party members now preferring him to take over. Even more troubling for Badenoch, 49% of respondents believe she will not remain leader by the time Britain heads to the polls.
Still, Badenoch stands firm. She insists she will lead the Conservatives into the next election, urging her party to focus on unity and renewal. Yet the numbers tell a different story – one of a party divided and restless.
For a leader who once embodied Conservative revival, the message from within her own camp is strikingly clear: Kemi Badenoch’s toughest battle may be inside her own party.
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