"The mood, they insist, is better than much of the media speculation. "Chipper", even. They take comfort from Labour's own woes and leadership speculation, and cling to a belief that Reform UK's populist policies increasingly do not survive contact with reality. "There's a gallows humour about the party, a 'well it can't get any worse, can it?' strange jovialness which is kind of bonding," says one Tory MP."
"Several texts I received suggested Badenoch had bought herself more time in office, perhaps months, with a single performance at Prime Minister's Questions last month, when she challenged Keir Starmer over what he knew about the friendship between his US ambassador, Peter Mandelson, and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. One former cabinet minister said: "The Mandelson PMQs was a turning point. She smashed it. "That one half hour has probably bought her another six months of grace in the job."
Kemi Badenoch leads 118 Conservative MPs while polling has fallen further since last year's heavy election defeat. Tory MPs divide into two camps: those who want to give her time to repair damage not entirely of her making, and those who believe time is already running out. Around one in three MPs responded to outreach about party mood and pressure. Supporters point to a surprisingly upbeat, 'chipper' mood and gallows humour, and to Labour's problems as sources of comfort. Several MPs credit a strong PMQs performance for buying Badenoch months of grace, but unease persists as poll numbers sink.
Read at www.bbc.com
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