What's happened
Kemi Badenoch is alleged to have discussed removing Rishi Sunak in 2023, prompting questions about cabinet loyalty as the party faced an election defeat. The claims hinge on Anthony Seldon’s forthcoming book, which is serialised in The Independent, The Guardian reports.
What's behind the headline?
Analysis
- Badenoch’s alleged plotting reflects long-standing tensions within the Tory ranks as they faced electoral headwinds.
- The narrative underscores leadership fragility rather than broad policy shifts, indicating a culture of factional maneuvering amid governance pressures.
- This update is likely to frame readers’ understanding of Sunak’s final months in office as a period defined by internal contest rather than external challenges.
Forecast: Expect further leaks or book excerpts that detail cabinet dynamics, potentially impacting public perceptions of trust within the government.
How we got here
The claims build on Seldon’s book, Sunak at 10: The Last Conservative PM?, which charts turmoil within the Tory leadership as they faced an unwelcome election. Badenoch, previously a leadership candidate, is said to have discussed mutiny with ministers while Sunak sought to steer policy and avoid a cabinet revolt.
Our analysis
The Independent reports (serialized extracts from Anthony Seldon’s Sunak at 10); The Guardian provides additional context and reaction from Badenoch’s allies; the authors argue this reflects broader Tory anxieties about leadership and unity.
Go deeper
- Did Badenoch’s actions affect policy outcomes in 2023–24?
- How have Tory MPs reacted to these claims?
- What does this say about leadership culture in the Conservative Party?
More on these topics
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Anthony Seldon - Master of the Wellington College, Berkshire
Sir Anthony Francis Seldon FRSA FRHistS FKC is a British educator and contemporary historian. As an author, he is known in part for his political biographies of Margaret Thatcher, John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Theresa May.
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Rishi Sunak - Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Rishi Sunak is a British politician who has served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party since 2022.
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Robert Jenrick - Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
Robert Edward Jenrick is a British Conservative Party politician serving as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government since 2019. He has served as Member of Parliament for Newark since 2014.
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United Kingdom - Country in Europe
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom or Britain, is a sovereign country located off the northwestern coast of the European mainland.
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Kemi Badenoch - British politician and Leader of the Opposition to the British Government (2024–present) and Leader of the Conservative Party since 2024 (born 1980)
Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke Badenoch (née Adegoke; born 2 January 1980) is a British politician who has served as Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party since November 2024. Badenoch previously worked in the Cabinet for prime minister
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The Independent - Newspaper
The Independent is a British online newspaper that was established in 1986 as a national morning printed newspaper published in London. Nicknamed the Indy, it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis
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Conservative Party - Political party
The Conservative Party, officially the Conservative and Unionist Party, and also known colloquially as the Tories, Tory Party, or simply the Conservatives, is a political party in the United Kingdom.