"While she went on to retain her seat, Badenoch's majority was slashed by almost 25,000 and the Conservative party as a whole suffered its worst defeat in parliamentary history. Ever since that day, her allies say, she has been thinking about how to redefine what the Conservative party stands for and turn the page after a tumultuous chapter in the party's history, one which has left its reputation in tatters."
"Badenoch arrived in Manchester at the weekend amid gloomy warnings that her party languishing at just 16% in the polls and haemorrhaging support to Reform UK was facing oblivion. Political analysts reported that in focus groups across the country, barely anyone was able to name a single thing she had said or done since becoming leader. The biggest risk for the Tories is that they are drifting into irrelevance, one said. Fringe events were sparsely attended and most shadow cabinet ministers found themselves addressing a half-empty hall."
Kemi Badenoch retained her Essex seat but saw her majority cut by almost 25,000. The Conservative party suffered its worst parliamentary defeat. Badenoch aims to redefine the party's identity after reputational damage. At the Manchester conference, the party was polling at just 16% and losing support to Reform UK. Focus groups showed that few could name anything she had done since becoming leader. Fringe events were sparsely attended and several shadow cabinet ministers addressed half-empty halls. Internal tension exists, with a countdown to the leadership challenge window and rivals such as Robert Jenrick preparing to contest.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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