Kemi Badenoch is determined to bring the nasty party label back– politicalbetting.com
Kemi Badenoch is determined to bring the nasty party label back– politicalbetting.com
I never thought I would have a smidgen of sympathy for Suella Braverman, especially after she defected, but those close to Kemi Badenoch have managed it, given how well she handled the defection of Robert Jenrick this has undone all that good work.
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First again.
Just like Birmingham City FC
I doubt most of the public will notice, they will just glance another hard right ex Tory Cabinet Minister joining Reform
The statement is beyond crass, it must have been written by some 20 year old dickhead in CCHQ
I’d say the same if it was about Diane Abbott or, god help me, Nicola Sturgeon
Why? Because
1. If it is true it is grotesque and cruel, and way beyond the pale of political abuse
Or, if it is, as I strongly suspect
2. Totally untrue, it is a nasty, childish, boorish, unfunny slur, which disgraces the Tory Party
Also, it is totally unnecessary. There are multiple ways to give Braverman a subtle kicking as she quits, they flawlessly chose the worst
The following is the draft before the draft they sent out.
"See that Swella? She's a proper mental. OI, MENTAL: ARE YOU OFF? BECAUSE YOU ARE CRAZY, YEAH? YOU TOTAL RE[that's enough satire - Ed]
It all goes back to Boris. This is what my dad was saying, and he’s been saying it for a decade not just right now. Boris was 100% in politics for himself - not the party, not good government. He was just a cad. He switched from Pro EU to campaign for Brexit simply because seeing opportunity to become PM by destroying Cameron. Throwing out the party the soft Brexiteers and strong centrist politicians who had been passionate Tories their whole lives and only rebelled a whip once - how the hell was he allowed to get away with it? 😖 And his government did not do economics. It did bluster about about to become so much flipping being better off, better wages than ever. His 35 minute “Jon Bon Govi” Conference address on eve of credit crunch didn’t even mention difficulties to come and plans for it everyone, including industry and business were listening for. Boris Stark Hard Brexit ripped up 100 years building the most trusted Fiscal Conservative Party in the world - the thing elections are won on. Boris delivered the Boriswave, the gift reform are suckling on putting them on 30% and Tories less than 20%.
The damage to to the Conservative Brand was the madness of succumbing to King Boris. And it’s hard to see how quickly it gets better for the Conservative Party now.
It’s the Conservative Brand that is the biggest problem for the Conservative Party right now. The solution has to be move back to the centre, and stop merely photocopying Farage’s policies like using ICE to deport seven hundred thousand people living working and in school here, stop being a drill baby drill party of climate change deniers, don’t glibly leave ECHR before pushing for reform. Etc.
Their fans are awful, they think they are Real Madrid but they are more Blackburn Rovers. I mean Spurs have won more European trophies than the Gunners.
A step up from being hacked
“ 🚨 UPDATE: The Tories have now retracted their statement attacking Suella Braverman's mental health, blaming it on a draft version which was "sent in error"
https://x.com/politlcsuk/status/2015804807068504458?s=61
Snowflakes the lot of you
b) Local derby next season.
The Tories have an opportunity to set out an alternative stall now, with a lot of the problematic set deserting for Reform. But they’ll squander that opportunity if they make errors of judgement like this.
But it’s not all about has been politicians who will never get another mayor or government job if they stay in the Conservatives though. Most the donors are still with Conservative Party to stop Reform outspending us, which it’s important too. As well as having more members, activists and councillors - which is why Conservative councils are delaying elections whilst Labour get the blame for it, added bonus. And the mid term polls of voters will clearly shift as proper election comes closer.
But there’s danger the defections that make the news, help donors and members and voters to defect too.
And danger how personalities work together in strong coalition government to keep Labour out, with such “not just a useless snake, but a mentally ill snake” bitterness.
Good they have deleted it and Kemi should apologise
Spolier: most of them.
The hypocrisy is off the scale...
I shall rectify that later.
Robert might be able to give us an update.
In other news I have just received the email to approved candidates asking if I wish to apply to be the LD candidate in Gorton and Denton. I used to live in Denton, shall I send an email?
"Social media users turn to AI in attempt to 'enhance' US shooting images"
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c86vy97g8zgt
Reform source:
"Katie Lam is going to be one of the next Conservative MPs to defect to Reform UK. She’s been on the fence for a while, but after seeing her closest allies join Reform, she feels like she’s got to make a decision."
https://x.com/charliesimpsona/status/2015808754327957733?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q
Have checked. The house I lived in until I was 4 years old is now in Angela Rayner's Ashton-under-Lyne constituency. Was born in Ashton, so I'll wait til she takes the Chiltern Hundreds then chuck my name into the hat.
The fukkers need a candidate for Gorton and Denton. Pppppppplease let it be Jonathan Gullis. Pretty please. With sugar on.
Careless and self inflicted error
A new moderate centre-right Tory group launched today. Worth looking at the list of supporters including
@davidgauke.bsky.social
@davidlidington.bsky.social
, Ruth Davidson, Malcolm Rifkind &many others known to
1) be quite pro-European
2) have no time for culture wars
https://bsky.app/profile/helenebismarck.bsky.social/post/3mddequwqf22w
I think people are broadly right that the public don't process these defections as "failures keep joining Reform" so much as "Reform are clearly doing well to have people join them" but there must surely be a limit to that.
@stephenkb.bsky.social
It all depends on how the Conservative leadership chooses to act, I think. Reform could end up looking as 'the Conservatives, changed and will be different this time' (generally a good position to have in British politics) or 'the party of failed extremist dregs' depending on what the Tories do.
Really do have to question the wisdom of getting a band got together that went from Oasis to a Wurzels tribute band in the space of 18 months…
https://x.com/mikeysmith/status/2015816956130033867?s=20
Nothing personal against @SuellaBraverman (& I’m glad CCHQ withdrew their earlier press release) but her defection from the Conservatives will make it easier for the Tories to win back many of the 7m centre/centre right voters who feel politically homeless #ProsperUK.
Exactly who at CCHQ thought it was a good idea to discuss her mental health with that statement ?
Gorton election on the 26th February
Starmer cannot get it over quickly enough
It’s been called the worst miscarriage of justice in British history. Hundreds of postmasters were wrongly prosecuted after money disappeared from the Horizon computer system. But who’s really to blame for the Post Office scandal?
With the public inquiry due to deliver its final report later in 2026, the Metropolitan Police says it is looking at more than 50 'persons of interest'. They include managers, investigators and lawyers. Reporter Andy Verity investigates some of those responsible for decisions that saw innocent postmasters jailed, lives destroyed and reputations ruined.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002qlf9/panorama-post-office-whos-to-blame
As long as the politicians walk away unscathed...
A VONC in Kemi's leadership then becomes likely
Jenrick, Braverman and others defecting has made her position secure and she will lead into GE 29
Taking Braverman was a big strategic error in my view for Reform.
She’s lost the firewall of Jenrick succeeding her.
She was more interested in pissing than performing.
Zahawi, Jenrick and Braverman. Jeez, what a shower. These were always the sort of people who made you slightly embarrassed to be a Tory.
See the various politicians who believed the lies they were told over Hillsborough.
The people who are truly criminals in this are those who knew there was a problem and orchestrated a coverup that included lying to ministers, lying to parliament and lying to the courts.
Remember the homelessness is a lifestyle choice.
Gauke etc pro-Europeanism even after the UK voted to leave Europe is/was a culture war.
What they mean is they don't have time for other people's culture wars, they still want to wage their own.
He will never rise to a decent role in government again.
https://conservativehome.com/2025/08/07/the-return-of-boris-tory-voters-are-looking-back-to-the-future/
Tory members also roundly rejected Hunt in 2019 but Cleverly was ahead of Jenrick in a Tory members poll after the 2024 Tory conference even if Kemi beat both.
https://conservativehome.com/2024/10/06/cleverly-overtakes-jenrick-in-our-post-conference-leadership-survey/
https://x.com/i/status/2015780557599146049
https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2026/01/andy-burnham-could-win-andrew-gwynnes-seat
The most powerful weapon in the Conservative Party armoury to blast at Reform is that the Conservative manifesto can be different than Reforms. The Conservative Party can move to the centre, it can be centre right, Reform cannot.
The Conservative Party can take a conservative approach to issues and solutions, Reform cannot. All Reform offer are populist responses and solutions, far too glib answers to complex nuanced problems, Reform policy is built for short-term political gains for power, not long-term actually solving problems and providing stability, and look and see there’s economic damage in every change they promote, as well as the erosion of democratic norms and checks and balances on their power grab too.
The Conservative Party was, until Badenoch, about the pluralist view - Lady Thatcher sitting side by side with wets in her cabinets for example. Contrast that with Farage and Reform. Which would be better if UK was in crisis and managing that crisis? proper democratic debate and compromise, or the Farage approach? Go view any of those Downfall mashups to learn where the Farage approach actually always ends up.
The election is on the 26th February so not long to wait
So where does this leave Rael Braverman, who jumped ship from Reform last summer after ... er ... they had a go at Suella?
https://spectator.com/article/rael-braverman-quits-reform-after-attacks-on-suella/
https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/rael-braverman-quits-reform-uk-following-suella-criticism/
1 Her timing is extraordinary. Just as Labour were ready to eviscerate Starmer for his unforgivable pettiness with regard to Burnham she upstages him and his story disappears
2. Anyone listening to Kemi B on Desert Island Discs will be less surprised by the mass exodus from her Party than they would have been before listening. In fact I'm surprised she hasn't joined Farage.
So is it better to be seen as nasty or to be seen as nasty AND incompetent (This relates to Starmer as well as Badenoch)
Reform UK now move up to become the fifth largest party in the Commons, having previously been tied with Sinn Féin (not that they take their seats). One more MP and they'll tie with the SNP. Two more and they'll be the fourth largest party!
The Reform UK Commons group is now half people elected as Reform MPs and half people elected as Conservatives. It now contains a majority of people who were previously Tory MPs.
Look at tonights polling on the by election, now on the 26th February, and this is going to run and run
As for Kemi, she is your best chance of defeating the Farage/ Trump tribute act
Sherlock Holmes doctrine applies: Once you have eliminated the impossible.....This leaves it between Man U and City. The form team in Utd. Currently about 50/1. Bet accordingly. DYOR.
And, it's far from certain that he would hold Gorton.
Evergreen cartoon by Morten Morland
@mortenmorland.bsky.social
for The Times from 13 June 2022 👇
Reminder: Suella Braverman was Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson's Attorney General.
No, really. She was #SuellaBraverman
https://bsky.app/profile/ajs1977.bsky.social/post/3mddnvhafhc2z