Kemi Badenoch talks ‘spring cleaning’ Reform defections

The Tory leader said the people who have moved over to Reform and are “his problem now” on a visit to Wilton in Redcar on Thursday (April 2).

It comes after the former UKIP leader launched a campaign in Houghton-le-Spring last week ahead of the local elections, saying Britain was broken.

In a speech at Sunderland Live Arena, the Clacton MP said the May 7 polls were a “referendum on our entire political class”.

In recent months, several high profile Tories have jumped ship to Reform, including former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi, former shadow minister Robert Jenrick, and former home secretary Suella Braverman.

But during her visit to Redcar, where she announced that a Conservative Government would axe carbon tax, Ms Badenoch criticised some of the defectors. 

She said: “I think I’ve been very clear that Nigel Farage has been doing my spring cleaning. These are people who were causing problems in the Conservative Party. 


“They’re his problem now.” 

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch in Sunderland (Image: owen humphreys)

Ms Badenoch made the comments responding to a question about former Reform housing spokesman Simon Dudley, who was sacked this week after he said the Grenfell Tower fire in London was a “tragedy” but that “everyone dies in the end”.

The Tory leader said: “The fact is, it is quite inappropriate to say everyone dies in response to a tragedy. 

“That’s the sort of chaos you get from Reform, they are full of people who are in politics, not for public service, but for self service, and we are well shot of them.” 

During the launch in Sunderland, Nigel Farage said the party would campaign on “local policies” and on seeking to control council tax levels, but that the local elections would also be a “vital stepping stone” to changing the Westminster Government.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage in Sunderland (Image: NORTH NEWS AND PICTURES)

He said: “This effectively will be a referendum on our entire political class and our message is simple.

“If you want real change, if you want different people, if you want those with the courage, who are prepared to stand up and put the interests of British people first, not international treaties or bogus organisations, if you want people who will make sure that it’s British people that go to the top of social housing lists, and not young men who’ve just arrived by boat, if you want change on May 7, you’ve got a chance to vote for change.”

He added: “Something remarkable is happening out there, and it’s because people understand that the two-party system has broken Britain.”

“We’ll begin on May 7, with that campaign, and indeed for the general election, May 7 is an essential, vital stepping stone.

“While local government matters, it’s winning national government ultimately that we have to achieve to change things and turn this country around, change attitudes, and get out of the negativity of managed decline.

“Let’s start believing in Britain and believing in ourselves.”