Amina Taylor | Kemi needs to start punching

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch can tick off her first 100 days in office. Making history as the first black woman to hold the position cannot be underestimated. But in terms of reasons to celebrate, it is very difficult to objectively observe both the performance and the impact of Ms Badenoch in her role and see success. In fact, there have been times where I have visibly bristled in second-hand embarrassment on her behalf.

Perhaps the most obvious marker of an Opposition creating their own lane or landing vital political blows is their performance at the weekly Prime Minister’s Questions, or PMQs. It’s an opportunity to grill the leader in charge in either a fashion so forensic or witty, using the allocated six questions, that you not only win the respect of your opposite number, but also land political punches that will see your party’s priorities given precious coverage in the media. It’s also an exceptional opportunity to build your personal brand.

Careers have been enhanced by the delivery of a searingly funny comeback or a put-down so withering, the politician on the receiving line is stunned into silence.

Students of politics can still remember David Cameron making his PMQs début against Tony Blair in 2005 and, referring to the Labour PM, saying ‘he was the future, once’. Ouch.

Badenoch’s dispatch box performances have been patchy, at best.

It doesn’t help that she’s facing off against an effective speaker in the shape of Sir Kier Starmer, who was also a top lawyer.

His response to some of her questions has veered from patronising or scathing to that of a disappointed teacher dressing down a once-promising pupil. “She hasn’t quite done her homework, because the decision was taken (by) the last government, according to the legal framework of the last government” was the PM’s answer when Badenoch quizzed him on a family of six from Gaza who had been given the green light to settle in the UK under the Ukraine Refugee Scheme.

It was hard to understand how the Leader of the Opposition wasn’t aware of that fact.

REBUILDING EXERCISE NEEDED

Sadly, there are no shortages of examples where Badenoch has either chosen her attack topics poorly, been badly briefed, or been too attached to her script to see an open goal.

The reviews would have made rough reading for the honourable member for North West Essex.

‘Absolute pantomime stuff from Badenoch.’

‘Kemi Badenoch having another utter car crash at PMQs.’

‘It should have been Jenrick.’

That last one must have stung, seeing pundits openly pine for her defeated leadership opponent in the November face-off. The very same politician who perhaps didn’t get the memo that he’s no longer campaigning and who pops up with the sole intention, I believe, of undermining Badenoch’s leadership.

The theme of forces within the Conservative Party willingly briefing against Badenoch or actively working to see her hoisted by her own petard seems a recurring one. How else would the media have been told that Ms Badenoch absolutely hates doing interviews and set pieces and, instead, prefers to send out junior ministers in her stead? How might it have been leaked that she loathes the so called ‘rubber chicken circuit’ of local Tory events that are part networking fodder and fundraising opportunities?

If the behind-the-scenes murmurs are in fact true, Badenoch’s personal management style is rather abrasive. A recent visit to Conservative HQ ended with not the motivational speech that rank-and-file workers needed after an electoral drubbing, but a reminder that if they did not “shape up, they’d be shipped off”. Hardly the stuff of inspiration, is it? Perhaps some senior Tory figures in the background are correct; Badenoch and her team simply don’t recognise the dire straits the Conservative Party finds itself in.

A rebuilding exercise is desperately needed, with some estimates putting the shortfall in the coffers in the millions. This seems not quite the time for any leader to ignore what’s being dubbed the ‘bricklaying’, instead focusing on the political architecture. Kemi needs to get her hands dirty; kiss some kids, down that pint, kick a ball, eat that rubber chicken, glad-hand, and press the flesh like a Vegas showman. With only 121 MPs in the House, it’s time to pull out all the stops – whether the very act sticks in the craw or not.

HURDLES TO OVERCOME

It might also be helpful if some of the stops that Ms Badenoch would pull out included new political plans. So far, the only Conservative policy unveiled by the leader of the Opposition has been one attacking the Leave to Remain status of lawful applicants seeking a path to British citizenship. Increasing the wait time will not address the particular Conservative hot-button issue of small boat arrivals and missed migration targets.

Kemi Badenoch has two very serious hurdles to overcome. The first is that the leader of the Opposition, in the minds of many of the Tory-voting faithful, is, unfortunately, the man sitting on the Reform benches, Nigel Farage. Membership of his party has overtaken that of the Conservatives. He is incredibly active on social media and seems to have a press team that gets him column inches for the most benign matter.

Reform is also not shy about monetising every single aspect of their political utterances–from the ‘grand reveal’ of the mayoral candidate for Hull to Nigel Farage giving another keynote speech for an issue that is, at best, a press release. That Reform begging bowl is always out.

Badenoch is also hamstrung by the fact that many of the issues she could critique in Opposition were in fact either instigated or exacerbated by the actions of her own party in Government for 14 years. It is very difficult to distance yourself from policies you helped to enact as a minister serving under the two separate leaders.

The job of Tory Party leader in Opposition was always going to be a tough gig, but perhaps now is a good time for the honourable lady to seriously reflect and recognise the scale of the battle ahead. Roll up your sleeves, Kemi, and start punching. At this stage, the situation is so dire, you have nothing left to lose.

Amina Taylor is a journalist and broadcaster. She is the former editor of Pride magazine and works as producer, presenter and correspondent with Press TV in London.