Kemi Badenoch has dismissed the threat posed from a Tory-Reform “Unite the Right” toppling plot after taking a swipe at Nigel Farage.
The Leader of the Opposition, who yesterday delivered her biggest policy commitment since Rishi Sunak in November, provided a stark account of her reaction to reports suggesting a Conservative cabal is already circling around her ahead of the 2025 Local Elections.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Badenoch said: “I read it and I laughed. There is a phenomenon of wishful thinking where people want to do something and so they try and talk it into reality and make it a self-fulfilling prophecy.
“But look at Reform. Only five of them and they’ve already had a massive squabble and lost 20 per cent of their MPs. If they can’t unite with five people, how are they going to Unite the Right?”
Taking aim at Farage, the Leader of the Opposition added: “This isn’t I’m A Celebrity or Strictly Come Dancing. You don’t vote for the person that you’re enjoying watching and then switch off when the show’s over.”
There has been no love lost between Badenoch and Farage since the pair first faced-off in the fight to lead Britain’s centre-right.
Badenoch’s North West Essex seat was identified as a major Reform target following last Boxing Day’s bust-up over membership numbers.
Meanwhile, top Tories labelled this week’s defection announcement a “sham” after a number of switchers had jumped ship weeks ago.
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