The Conservative Party has reportedly declined Kemi Badenoch’s request to lead the party into the next United Kingdom general election, creating tension among members over its direction and leadership future.
The UK’s next general election is expected to take place in August 2029, with local council elections scheduled for May 2026. Discussions about Badenoch’s position began to intensify after the party’s poor showing in recent opinion polls and disappointing results in the 2026 local elections.
Before the polls, projections suggested the Conservatives were likely to lose several seats, as many members believed Badenoch had not been addressing key issues. The prediction proved accurate, with the party receiving only 15 percent of the total votes — its weakest performance since 1995.
A YouGov survey involving 652 Conservative members showed a split opinion on Badenoch’s leadership. About 29 percent viewed her unfavourably, while nearly 70 percent expressed positive opinions about her.
According to the poll, 37 percent of respondents felt Badenoch was doing a poor job, compared to 61 percent who believed she was performing well. However, when asked whether she should lead the party into the next general election, the party appeared evenly divided.
Half of the respondents said she should not lead the Conservatives in 2029, while 46 percent wanted her to remain the party’s candidate for prime minister. Even among those who supported her in the 2024 leadership race, around 30 percent now think a new leader should be chosen before the next election.
The poll also highlighted potential replacements for Badenoch, with Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary and her former rival, emerging as the preferred successor. Other names mentioned by members include former prime minister Boris Johnson and shadow housing secretary James Cleverly.
The outcome of the poll has sparked renewed debate within the Conservative Party over its leadership and overall strategy heading into the next general election.