Ex-Red Wall MP Says Only Kemi Badenoch Can ‘Slay Reform Dragon’

Poll of Tory Members Finds Former Business Secretary Clear Front Runner for Leader

Kemi Badenoch should be elected Tory leader as she is the only one who can “slay the Reform dragon”, a former Red Wall MP has said.

Alex Stafford, who lost his South Yorkshire seat of Rother Valley in this month’s election, said the former business secretary was the candidate who “embodies Conservative values” and was the “clear front runner”.

He said she could win back those Tories who believed that in recent years the party had too often “talked Right but governed Left”.

Mr Stafford’s endorsement came as a poll of Tory members found that Ms Badenoch was the clear front runner.

The Conservative Home website found she had the backing of 26 per cent of members, leaving second-placed Robert Jenrick trailing on 13 per cent.

Tom Tugendhat is slightly behind, also on 13 per cent, with Suella Braverman on just 10 per cent and James Cleverly on 9 per cent. Priti Patel has the support of just 3 per cent of members.

Mr Stafford, who was elected as part of Boris Johnson’s 2019 victory, lost his seat by 998 votes.

Even though he had one of the smallest swings against him of any sitting Conservative MP, he lost in part because of the intervention of Reform UK.

Writing for The Telegraph (see below), Mr Stafford urged the party not to rush into a leadership contest, and said the membership must be involved.

“Whilst we are fortunate to have several good candidates who are considering putting their name forward, there is a clear front runner who can slay the Reform dragon – Kemi Badenoch,” he said.

“Having been her parliamentary private secretary for the past 18 months, I witnessed first-hand how hardworking, principled, and above all an embodiment of Conservatism she is.

“From speaking out against the high levels of immigration, to starting the downfall of the SNP by stopping the Scottish gender recognition reform bill, Kemi repeatedly proves she knows what resonates with the public, and how to use it to thwart our political opponents.

“It is essential she comes forward and throws her hat into the ring for the leadership of our party.”

Ms Badenoch is now shadow housing secretary – a position she requested so she can square up against Angela Rayner.

Ms Rayner, who as well as being Deputy Prime Minister is also Housing Secretary, wants to bring in a new race equality act that would enshrine in law the right to equal pay for people from ethnic minorities.

Ms Badenoch has in the past said this equates to South African apartheid, with workers “classified by race”.

‘Race is wide open’
The Conservative Home website showed that 16 per cent of members still did not know whom they would support.

Henry Hill, the website’s deputy editor, said: “Conservative leadership contests normally end up with a candidate of the Right versus a candidate of the centre, which on these results would likely mean a final round between Tom Tugendhat and either Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick.

“But with ‘don’t know’ the second-largest group, and a wide spread of support between potential candidates, at this stage the race is wide open.”

Mr Stafford said Labour’s majority was “built on sand”. He added: “What is clear is that again and again seats were lost as the traditional Right-leaning vote share was split between the Conservatives and Reform.

“If only a fraction of the Reform vote had gone to the Conservatives, tens of seats, including my own, would have stayed blue.

“We must never allow the Right to split again. If that happens, the Right loses, and so does the country.”

People voted for Reform because they felt overlooked by both the Conservative and Labour parties, he said.

“Whether it is on law and order, taxation, welfare, and especially immigration, for too long, we have talked Right but governed Left on the issues that matter most to people in the country,” he added.

“It is our job over the next five years to win these people back. The Conservative Party must regroup, rebuild and reunite our electoral coalition of 2019 all over again.”