Kemi Badenoch is facing mounting criticism for engaging in a public spat with Nigel Farage over claims regarding Reform UK’s membership numbers. The dispute has drawn warnings from within her own Conservative Party, with members and political observers questioning the wisdom of such confrontations during a politically precarious time.
The New Daily Prime earlier reported Farage claimed that Reform UK’s membership had surpassed the Conservative Party’s, a claim Badenoch dismissed as based on “fake” numbers. Kemi accused Reform Party of using manipulated counters, prompting Farage to demand an immediate apology and threaten legal action.
Conservatives are now divided over Badenoch’s handling of the situation. Some Tory MPs and party members criticized her actions, believing that her public attack on Farage has inadvertently given Reform UK more visibility, potentially boosting their profile. One Tory MP described the row as “total bollocks,” emphasizing that such public disputes only serve to detract from the Conservative Party’s broader priorities.
A Conservative member from Manchester, speaking to The New Daily Prime, stated, “Kemi’s actions are nothing but free promotion for Farage and the Reform Party. She needs to wake up and realize the threat Reform poses, especially with local elections just around the corner.” The member added that engaging in online battles with Farage is counterproductive and could distract from the party’s need to focus on issues voters care about.
Another senior party member criticized Badenoch for what they described as a futile attempt to discredit Farage. “Picking a fight like this is pointless—never wrestle with a pig, as they say. It just gets you dirty while the pig enjoys it,” the member remarked. They urged the Conservative Party to focus on its own challenges, such as holding Labour accountable on critical issues like job creation, reducing carbon emissions, cutting taxes, and addressing the housing crisis.
Farage, meanwhile, has seized on the controversy to bolster his party’s credibility. On Friday, he announced that Reform UK would open its membership figures for independent verification by media organizations, a move intended to counter allegations of fraud. He also reiterated his demand for an apology from Badenoch, describing her comments as “outrageous” and hinting at the possibility of legal action. “I’m not going to take this lying down,” Farage said during a media call. “Kemi Badenoch has made a terrible mistake, and she’s going to regret this.”
The public spat has brought renewed attention to a significant gap in UK political transparency: the lack of external auditing for party membership figures. Unlike the Liberal Democrats and Greens, who openly publish their membership numbers, the Conservative Party has historically refrained from doing so. Reform UK’s online membership tracker currently shows nearly 142,500 members, compared to the 131,680 reported by the Conservatives during their last leadership election.
Some Political Analysts have also questioned the strategic sense of Badenoch’s approach. They argue that, rather than undermining Farage, her public accusations have amplified the Reform leader’s platform, giving him an opportunity to frame himself as a credible challenger to the Conservative Party.
The timing of the dispute could not be worse for the Tories, who are still reeling from their worst election defeat in July. With local elections approaching in May, Reform UK is positioning itself as a growing political force. Farage has said that the majority of his new members are people who have never joined a political party before, highlighting his party’s potential to draw disillusioned voters away from the Conservatives.
While Badenoch’s supporters argue that she is simply defending the integrity of the Conservative Party, critics warn that the controversy risks overshadowing the party’s efforts to rebuild its image and reconnect with voters. The row also underscores the challenges facing the Conservatives as they navigate the political landscape against a backdrop of internal division and external threats.
As the war of words continues, the Conservatives may find themselves forced to reassess their strategy—both in countering the rise of Reform UK and in addressing the pressing issues that will define the next electoral cycle.
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