Key Highlights
- Tory leader Kemi Badenoch is finding more success in opposition against Labour’s Keir Starmer.
- The Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) has formed an “attack cell” to coordinate with the party’s office for PMQs.
- Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, has overtaken the Tories in opinion polls and is challenging their agenda.
- Badenoch is improving her public image and aggressive questioning style, partly due to a restructured team.
The Tory Comeback: Kemi Badenoch’s Strategy Against Labour
LONDON — In the wake of its worst-ever election defeat, Britain’s Conservative Party is rediscovering its offensive tactics. Leader Kemi Badenoch has begun to land more consistent blows against Labour’s Keir Starmer in their weekly clashes, after months of frustration from her MPs. The shift comes as a relief for the party, which now faces an uncertain future with its third-place standing behind populist insurgent Nigel Farage’s Reform UK and the Green Party.
The Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) has also played a crucial role in this turnaround.
Known by few beyond Westminster, the obscure “PQ” system lets MPs send technical queries to ministers. This faster and more effective mechanism than Britain’s freedom of information regime has been instrumental in uncovering Labour’s vulnerabilities.
The ‘Attack Cell’ at Work
One key figure behind this resurgence is Sheridan Westlake, a veteran operator at CCHQ with 14 years of government experience. He and his small team have orchestrated several successful attacks against Labour figures, most notably leading to the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.
The CCHQ formed a five-man “attack cell” to coordinate lines with Badenoch’s office, including Westlake, CRD Director Marcus Natale, and other key operatives. These operatives work closely with right-wing newspapers to keep up momentum by furnishing attack research and quotes.
Reform UK’s Ascendancy
The biggest challenge for the Tories is not just Labour but also Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, which has emerged as a formidable political force. With only five MPs, Reform UK has seized the agenda, leading to tensions within CCHQ over its aggressive tactics and media tone.
Badenoch’s Personal Transformation
Badenoch herself is undergoing a transformation. She began with a focus on “rebuilding trust” and serious reform, but realized the need to be more confrontational after Reform UK’s rise. Allies of Badenoch have worked to help her bring out her “sassy” side, making her more engaging for the public.
Badenoch has also applied pressure to Labour over its tax policy as she prepares to respond to this Wednesday’s budget.
Her initial style as leader had puzzled and in some cases infuriated some on the right who knew her as one of Westminster’s most headline-grabbing MPs. However, a leadership challenge appears to be parked until May, at least.
With public opinion moving against Labour, Tory MPs worry less about looking like hypocrites when highlighting crises such as prisons, which arguably collapsed under their tenure. As time wears on, collective memory might start to fade, but the fight for political dominance is far from over in Westminster.
The struggle between two establishment parties and Reform UK’s rise in the public eye highlights the evolving dynamics of British politics. The Tories are honing their game, but they face a new challenge that could change the landscape entirely.
