KEMI Badenoch could face a leadership challenge “within months” senior Tories have secretly warned – as donors desert the crisis-hit party.
Shadow Cabinet ministers say the Tory leader is bombing at PMQs and being outshone by Nigel Farage’s Reform Party.
ReutersConservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch is on the ropes[/caption]
One said: “PMQs this week was woeful. She is getting worse and worse and Keir is getting better.
“We want Kemi to succeed but she needs to change her tactics.
“The problem is she doesn’t listen to anyone. She needs to change course and quickly.
“And she needs to get some new members of her team who can actually stand up to her and say no and she will listen to them.”
Another senior Tory said: “The shadow cabinet is desperate to do something and attack. But Kemi won’t do anything.
“There was a shadow Cabinet meeting on the anniversary of her first 100 days as leader. .
“And absolutely nothing was planned to go on the attack.
“Meanwhile, Reform were out getting headlines with their Kemi books saying she hadn’t done anything since being leader.”
Kemi has until September to turn things around or serious questions will be asked of her leadership, the source said.
Another said: “I thought she would survive the May elections even if they are bad just because she hasn’t been in post long. But now I am not so sure.
In another blow to the under-fire Tory boss, she left a swanky dinner with a wealthy possible donor empty handed.
Kemi and her team went to Middlesborough FC wonder Steve Gibson’s mansion in North Yorkshire on Thursday night.
Mr Gibson – who has previously backed Labour and is worth a mega £640milllion – treated them to dinner and a sleepover.
But The Sun on Sunday understands they left without any money or a pledge of support from the football boss.
Tory Party coffers are running dry – and the party has been forced to lay off staff at their HQ.
Reform party Treasurer Nick Candy is busy hoovering up lots of donations from the City – traditionally where the Tories get a lot of their money from.
A Tory source said: “He is stealing candy from a baby.”
Meanwhile some Labour MPs are purposely “going soft” on Kemi as they do not want her toppled too quickly in case the party gets a more effective leader.
A Labour MP told The Sun on Sunday: “Labour MPs have been saying to each other – go soft on Kemi as we do not want her gone yet.”
Tory sources hit back – insisting it was never their intention to leave Mr Gibson’s home with a cheque or political backing.
She is out “working hard” and listening to people, the source added.
A source at the dinner added: “It went well. Kemi hit her stride.”
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