Kemi Badenoch, the embattled leader of the Conservative Party, is facing a fierce backlash after launching a series of attacks on Nigel Farage and Reform UK. Her most recent claim? That Reform UK has been inflating its membership numbers to appear more influential than it really is.
But instead of landing a knockout blow, Badenoch’s accusations have spectacularly backfired. Rather than exposing Farage, she’s handed him a golden opportunity to paint himself as a victim of political smears – and it’s working. Reform UK’s popularity is surging, while the Conservatives continue their freefall in the polls.
The Accusation
Badenoch’s bold claim came earlier this week, where she accused Reform UK of “faking” its membership figures to create a false impression of growing grassroots support. Her remarks were meant to undermine Farage and cast doubt on his party’s credibility.
Farage, never one to shy away from a fight, hit back immediately, dismissing the claims as “desperate lies from a failing party.”
Farage Fights Back
Farage wasted no time in turning Badenoch’s comments to his advantage, doubling down on his anti-establishment rhetoric. ‘This is exactly what the Tories do when they’re losing,’ he said in a fiery rebuttal. ‘They attack anyone who dares to challenge them.’
He also invited Badenoch to debate the issue publicly, knowing full well that such a confrontation would only boost his profile. ‘If she’s so confident in her claims, let’s see her back them up,’ Farage taunted.
A Miscalculation?
The fallout has been swift – and damaging for Badenoch. Instead of discrediting Farage, her remarks have given him more airtime and a fresh wave of public sympathy. Polling suggests Reform UK’s support is growing, with disillusioned Conservatives flocking to Farage’s banner.
Political analyst Patrick O’Flynn called it a major misstep. ‘Badenoch’s attack was supposed to expose Reform UK as a fringe movement. Instead, it’s legitimised Farage and made him look like the underdog fighting against the Tory machine.’
Trouble in Toryland
Within the Conservative Party, frustration is mounting. With Labour’s Keir Starmer commanding a commanding lead and Badenoch’s leadership already under fire, many MPs feel her focus should be on uniting the right, not picking fights with Farage.
‘This obsession with Reform UK is doing more harm than good,’ said a senior Tory backbencher, speaking anonymously in a report published by The Times. ‘Badenoch has turned Farage into a martyr and alienated voters we desperately need.’
The backlash from voters has been equally brutal. One lifelong Conservative supporter from Kent said, ‘Instead of tackling the real issues, Badenoch is wasting time attacking Farage. It’s pathetic.’
What’s Next for Badenoch?
As the feud escalates, Badenoch faces a crucial decision. Will she double down on her attacks, or will she shift her focus back to battling Labour and the Liberal Democrats? Her handling of this situation could determine not only her future as Conservative leader but the very survival of the party itself.
For now, one thing is clear: Nigel Farage isn’t going anywhere, and Badenoch’s efforts to neutralise him appear to have strengthened his position instead of diminishing it. Her attempts to undermine his credibility have inadvertently provided him with the momentum to galvanise his supporters and expand his influence.
Suggesting that Reform UK was faking its membership numbers was indeed, as Farage observed, desperate. Here are some reactions from commentors on X/Twitter:
- @DawnWestgate: “I vote conservative. However I find your jibes at Nigel Farage completely inappropriate as well as very childish. You are giving people like me more reasons every day to seriously think about leaving our party.”
- @OtherBellamy: “…The fact that Kemi has a humiliating community note on her post, and hasn’t had the good grace to delete it and apologise, says a great deal about the content of her character – and the quality of her advisors.”
- @EssexPR: “When it is officially shown that Kemi Badenoch has got this Reform claim wrong, she should step down, utterly unnecessary, completely embarrassing to the Conservatives. If she was advised to do it, that person should be looked into, they’ve politically damaged her.”
