How Long Does Kemi Badenoch Have?
Recent polling by Deltapoll shows that only 38% of Britons could recognize Kemi Badenoch in a photograph. Speaking to a heated room of MPs and journalists, she joked,
“People didn’t seem to be getting the message that I was an engineer.”
This was her explanation for delivering her speech at the Royal Academy of Engineering, emphasizing her professional background. One year and two days into her leadership of the Conservative Party, her remark received polite chuckles but revealed a deeper issue: most people outside Westminster neither know nor care who she is.
This week is critical for Badenoch as it marks the anniversary of her leadership, making her vulnerable to challenges from her MPs. The party’s initial hope has turned to despair after a year in office. Conservatives who once saw the 2024 election defeat as the lowest point have been shocked by falling polling numbers.
When Badenoch became leader, the Conservative Party was polling steadily at 25%. Now, a year later, they have dropped to just 16%, trailing Reform, Labour, and sometimes even the Liberal Democrats and Greens. The party’s status as one of the two main government parties is no longer secure, and their role as the principal opposition is uncertain.
Poll Decline Details
- Polling at 25% when Badenoch took leadership
- Dropped to 16% within a year
- Now behind Reform, Labour, Liberal Democrats, and Greens
- Main opposition status at risk
Badenoch’s year as leader reflects a turbulent period for the Conservative Party, struggling to maintain relevance and support among voters.
Author’s summary: Kemi Badenoch’s first year as Conservative leader has seen her party’s support plummet dramatically, raising serious doubts about her future and the party’s political standing.
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