While some despairing Tories ponder what new disaster will end up dislodging Kemi Badenoch from her post, loyalists root around for something, anything, that might arrest her dismal polling numbers. More than one strategy session is said to have included expressions of hope that Liz Truss might sink Reform by defecting to them.
In the absence of a lettuce-shaped bombshell, plans for a relaunched “touchy-feely Kemi” who meets ordinary people and listens to their concerns seem set to founder on Badenoch’s own character. She’s pretty sure already about what the country needs (her) and has a short attention span, notoriously in the mornings.
Meanwhile, the comms around her continue to be tone deaf. All Tory MPs were invited to a post-election drinks reception with the leader last week but only 25 turned up. Some who blamed prior engagements ahead of VE Day were even telling the truth.
