Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has pushed back against increasing demands for her resignation following the party’s severe losses in the local elections, arguing that merely switching leaders again “won’t be enough.”
The Conservative Party suffered significant setbacks, losing over 600 councillors and all 15 councils previously under its control. Reform UK gained momentum, pushing the Tories into third place in several areas.
Despite the criticism, Badenoch remained resolute. “What this shows, for a lot of people who hoped that just changing leader again would fix everything, is that that’s not going to be enough,” she stated. “We tried that previously and that brought us to an historic defeat.”
Jason Smithers, the former head of North Northamptonshire Council—which shifted to Reform—expressed his disappointment and called for her to resign. “She has not helped in these elections; she has not once come forward and helped at all,” he said.
Badenoch stood by her approach: “This is six months into a five-year project. What we are doing is steadying the ship, being united… Reform had a good night, we had a bad night.”
She also acknowledged the public’s dissatisfaction fueling Reform’s gains: “Protest is in the air… I suspect things will get worse.”
When asked about the possibility of Nigel Farage becoming prime minister, she replied: “Anything is feasible.” However, she added, “My job is to make sure that he does not become PM because he does not have the answers to the problems the country is facing.”
What you should know
Kemi Badenoch is resisting resignation pressures after the Conservatives’ major local election losses. She insists leadership change won’t fix deeper issues and has vowed to counter Nigel Farage’s rising influence.
Her comments underline the party’s internal struggles and the growing challenge posed by Reform UK.
ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM VERILY NEWS
