Conservative leadership candidate Robert Jenrick has launched a sharp criticism of his rival, Kemi Badenoch, accusing her of being "disrespectful" to Tory members for not outlining specific
policies. Both contenders are in the final phase of the race to replace Rishi Sunak, who led the party to a historic defeat in the July general election.
Jenrick, who is trailing Badenoch in the leadership race, had initially committed to the “yellow card” system aimed at preventing in-party infighting. However, he has now taken aim at Badenoch, accusing her of failing to address key issues, particularly immigration and the UK’s membership in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)—topics central to his own campaign.
Jenrick has placed immigration and a pledge to leave the ECHR at the forefront of his platform, criticizing Badenoch for offering what he described as "easy answers" on these issues.
Conservative Party members are currently voting online, after a series of MP ballots narrowed the field to two contenders. The vote closes on 31 October, and the winner will be announced on 2 November.
In a recent interview on BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour, Jenrick stressed the importance of clarity on major national issues, accusing Badenoch of not being forthcoming. "I think it’s disrespectful to the members and the public to ask for their votes without saying where you stand on the big issues facing our country today," he said. He positioned his campaign as one that offers a concrete plan, in contrast to Badenoch, who he claimed only promises to outline policies later.
Jenrick also asserted that under his leadership, all Conservative candidates standing in the next election would be required to commit to leaving the ECHR. Badenoch, while not ruling out the possibility of leaving the ECHR, has argued that a more comprehensive strategy is needed, rather than what she describes as "a throwaway promise to win a leadership election."
Badenoch’s campaign emphasizes a return to "first principles," urging the party to focus on its core values instead of making new policy commitments or presenting "easy answers" that may not be achievable. She has consistently argued that the party needs to be clearer about its long-term vision, rather than merely setting short-term targets.
The two candidates have two more weeks to persuade Conservative members before Sunak’s successor is chosen. The leadership contest, overseen by 1922 Committee chair Bob Blackman, has been ongoing since July, with six candidates originally entering the race. Blackman introduced the “yellow card” rule to discourage personal attacks, arguing that internal divisions during the last parliament contributed to the party’s poor general election performance.
As the contest nears its conclusion, tensions between the two finalists are expected to intensify, as they vie for the support of Conservative members. Photo by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street, Wikimedia commons.