Kemi Badenoch, the UK Conservative Party leader and the first Black woman to hold the role, is facing mounting pressure after the Tories’ bruising defeat in the May 1, 2025, local elections.
The party lost 674 council seats and control of 16 authorities, marking one of its worst electoral performances in history. As calls for her resignation grow, Badenoch has pushed back, insisting that sacking her won’t solve the party’s deeper issues. In a candid BBC interview on May 4, 2025, she defended her “slow and steady” plan to rebuild the Conservatives, urging patience amid a surge by Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.
The local elections were Badenoch’s first major test since taking over from Rishi Sunak in November 2024, following the Conservatives’ historic general election loss in July. The results were grim: the Tories lost over 600 councillors and all 15 councils they controlled, with Reform UK seizing 10 councils and gaining 677 seats. In Northamptonshire, the collapse was stark—37 seats lost in North Northamptonshire and 35 in West Northamptonshire, handing both councils to Reform. Jason Smithers, former leader of North Northamptonshire Council, didn’t mince words, telling the BBC, “I can’t see how a leader can stay on with such terrible results.” He plans to demand Badenoch’s resignation in a call with her, accusing her of failing to support local campaigns.
Badenoch, however, sees the calls for her exit as shortsighted. Speaking on BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, she argued that the party’s problems can’t be fixed by “just changing leader again.” “We tried that before, and it brought us to a historic defeat,” she said, referencing the rapid turnover of leaders—six in nine years—that has left the Tories reeling. Her strategy is a “tortoise, not hare” approach, focusing on long-term renewal over quick wins. “Reform had a good night. We had a bad night,” she admitted, but insisted that protest votes, not policy failures, drove the results. She pointed to volatile political times, noting that Labour’s Keir Starmer recovered from poor local election results to win a landslide in 2024.
The rise of Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, has been a thorn in Badenoch’s side. Polls show Reform climbing from 19% to over 26% since she took over, siphoning one in four 2024 Tory voters and nearly half of Brexit supporters. Critics argue Badenoch’s lack of specific policies has left a vacuum for Farage to fill. Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen warned in December 2024 that failing to address issues like migration could cede ground to Reform, a fear echoed by polls showing only 18% of voters see Badenoch as a “prime minister in waiting.” Yet, Badenoch dismisses knee-jerk policy pledges. “Reform says stuff because they haven’t thought it through,” she told BBC Radio 4, promising “thoughtful Conservatism” over populist soundbites.
Inside the party, tensions are simmering. Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary who lost to Badenoch in the 2024 leadership race, is emerging as a potential challenger. More than two dozen Tory MPs and officials told Bloomberg in April 2025 that Jenrick, with his detailed policy platform on immigration and taxes, might be better suited to face the next general election by 2029. His slick interventions beyond his justice brief—backed by key party donors—have fueled speculation of a shadow leadership bid. Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt, however, cautioned against leadership upheaval, telling Sky News that removing Badenoch would be “the worst possible thing.” Jenrick himself has publicly backed her, calling her leadership “excellent.”
Badenoch’s journey to this moment is as compelling as the drama surrounding her. Born in Wimbledon in 1980 to Nigerian parents, she grew up in Lagos before returning to London at 16 with just £100. Working at McDonald’s to fund her A-levels, she later studied computer systems engineering at Sussex University, where she clashed with “stupid lefty white kids.” Her experiences in Nigeria’s socialist system shaped her staunch conservatism, and her Brexit vote in 2016 set her apart from Jenrick, who backed Remain. Elected MP for Saffron Walden (now North West Essex) in 2017, she rose through roles under Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Sunak, earning a reputation as a combative “anti-woke” warrior. Her handling of the Post Office Horizon scandal drew criticism, and allegations of bullying in her Business and Trade department surfaced in 2024, which she denied as smears.
Supporters see Badenoch as the Tories’ best hope. Her November 2024 victory, with 53,806 votes to Jenrick’s 41,388, was hailed as a “mic drop” for choosing Britain’s first Black female leader, echoing Margaret Thatcher’s trailblazing rise. Fans on X called her “box office,” predicting she’d “eviscerate Starmer” at Prime Minister’s Questions. Critics, however, point to her struggles to connect with voters and her reluctance to outline policies. A February 2025 poll found declining public faith in her competence, trustworthiness, and leadership, with some X users branding her tenure a “sinking ship.” The Spectator warned on May 3 that the election results signal “extinction territory” for the Tories under her watch.
Badenoch remains undeterred, apologizing to lost councillors but vowing to fight on. Visiting Peterborough on May 2 to celebrate a rare Tory win—the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough mayoralty—she emphasized rebuilding trust. “My job is to make us a credible alternative to Labour,” she said, acknowledging the “long road ahead.” She even conceded Farage could become prime minister but insisted her mission is to ensure he doesn’t, arguing his solutions fall short.