LONDON, England — The Conservative Party is facing deep internal divisions over whether Kemi Badenoch should lead the Tories into the next general election, according to new polling that highlights growing unease about her leadership.
The YouGov survey of 652 Conservative members found the party nearly evenly split, with 50 percent saying Badenoch should not remain leader by the time of the next election, while 46 percent believe she should continue as the party’s prime ministerial candidate in 2029.
The findings come amid mounting pressure on Badenoch after the Conservatives suffered heavy losses in the May 2025 local council elections — their worst result since 1995 — securing just 15 percent of the vote.
Discussions about her leadership intensified following the party’s poor polling ahead of those elections, with critics accusing Badenoch of focusing on “the wrong issues” and failing to reconnect with traditional Conservative voters.
The YouGov poll revealed that while most party members still view Badenoch positively, confidence in her leadership has weakened.
About 70 percent of respondents said they held a favourable view of her, compared to 29 percent who viewed her unfavourably.
However, 37 percent said she was doing a bad job as leader, while 61 percent believed she was performing well.
Even among those who voted for her in the 2024 leadership contest, 30 percent now think she should be replaced before the next general election.
“Even among those who voted for her to be party leader last year, 30% believe Badenoch should be replaced as party leader by the next general election,” YouGov noted.
Badenoch, who became leader after the Conservatives’ defeat in the 2024 general election, is now facing renewed competition from several high-profile figures within the party.
Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary and her main rival in last year’s leadership race, has emerged as the favourite among grassroots members to succeed her.
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and James Cleverly, the shadow housing secretary, have also been cited as potential challengers should Badenoch’s leadership weaken further.
The next general election is scheduled for August 2029, though local elections in May 2026 are expected to serve as an early test of Badenoch’s political standing.
Party insiders say that unless the Conservatives’ poll numbers improve significantly over the coming months, calls for a leadership change could become irresistible.
For now, Badenoch remains defiant, telling supporters last week that she is “focused on delivering a vision of opportunity and reform” and not “distracted by internal gossip.”
But with the Tories polling at record lows and the party divided over its direction, the question of whether Badenoch will lead them into the next election remains far from settled.
