Reform UK shadow chancellor Robert Jenrick has launched a fierce attack on Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, accusing her of being part of a metropolitan elite. He stated that a coalition deal with the Conservatives would be akin to being "handcuffed to a zombie."
Criticism of Badenoch
During his remarks, Jenrick repeatedly referred to Badenoch as "Kensington Kemi," suggesting that her party caters to those who lament the decline of Mayfair clubs and struggle to find ingredients for Ottolenghi recipes in stores. He criticized the Conservative Party for offering financial incentives to wealthy areas, claiming they were handing out "bungs for Belgravia" after announcing that property would be exempt from inheritance tax and extending free childcare to higher earners.
Deteriorating Party Relations
Jenrick's criticisms come amid worsening relations between the Conservatives and Reform UK. Since defecting to Reform UK earlier this year, he has faced ridicule at Conservative events, notably being depicted as a crying baby in a satirical Bayeux tapestry of the political landscape.
In her conference speech, Badenoch firmly dismissed any notion of uniting the right with a deal between Reform and the Tories, questioning who would want to ally with a party that made her British-born mixed-race children feel unwelcome.
Farage's Response
Nigel Farage, the Reform leader, downplayed the possibility of a post-electoral pact, calling it "extremely unlikely." However, Jenrick took a more aggressive stance during a press conference, labeling the Conservatives as "nothing more than a metropolitan pressure group for the wealthiest."
