Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has hit out at her critics (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has hit back at the "sore losers" advocating for Robert Jenrick to take her place.
She also insinuated that some of her detractors thought she only achieved her position due to positive discrimination, stating they "can't cope with the fact that I won this".
Article continues belowADVERTISEMENT
The 15 Most Unusual Coral Species: #8 Will Astonish You! vyca.top |
Undo
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Humiliation for Keir Starmer as voters can't name a single good thing he's done
PM should fire Rachel Reeves, as almost half of UK voters don't think she's 'up to job'
Tory hints at defection to Reform as Kemi Badenoch's MPs split over migration
Former Tory on Nigel Farage in Wales - 'It was just miraculous'
Keir Starmer in crisis as his government hits lowest approval rating ever
Lee Anderson corrects deluded Labour councillor in brutal 8-word dig after claim
Nigel Farage shares bizarre clip of him 'dancing' in fur coat and bling
St George's flag is 'intimidating' and flown by people with 'unacceptable views'
Lee Anderson's booming six-word verdict as Reform soars to record lead in polls
POLL: Is St George's flag intimidating and racist? Have your say
Nigel Farage defends Angela Rayner in huge row over ￡800k third home
Lee Anderson issues brutal 11-word verdict on Epping migrant hotel court win
Moment Reform UK's Zia Yusuf EXPOSES Robert Jenrick's migration record
The top 10 most insane and hilarious moments from Brexit in full
Reform councillor, 22, sacked from top council role months into job
Furious Nigel Farage erupts at new asylum record under Labour: 'Disaster!'
The three Tory councils considering legal action over migrant hotels
Nigel Farage warned over Reform UK 'curse' after thumping by-election wins
Nigel Farage erupts as Keir Starmer's EU fish surrender could cost up to ￡6bn
Huge blow to Keir Starmer as councils given fresh boost in fight to shut migrant hotels
Humiliation for Keir Starmer as voters can't name a single good thing he's done
PM should fire Rachel Reeves, as almost half of UK voters don't think she's 'up to job'
Tory hints at defection to Reform as Kemi Badenoch's MPs split over migration
Former Tory on Nigel Farage in Wales - 'It was just miraculous'
Keir Starmer in crisis as his government hits lowest approval rating ever
Lee Anderson corrects deluded Labour councillor in brutal 8-word dig after claim
Nigel Farage shares bizarre clip of him 'dancing' in fur coat and bling
St George's flag is 'intimidating' and flown by people with 'unacceptable views'
Lee Anderson's booming six-word verdict as Reform soars to record lead in polls
POLL: Is St George's flag intimidating and racist? Have your say
Nigel Farage defends Angela Rayner in huge row over ￡800k third home
Lee Anderson issues brutal 11-word verdict on Epping migrant hotel court win
Moment Reform UK's Zia Yusuf EXPOSES Robert Jenrick's migration record
The top 10 most insane and hilarious moments from Brexit in full
Reform councillor, 22, sacked from top council role months into job
Furious Nigel Farage erupts at new asylum record under Labour: 'Disaster!'
The three Tory councils considering legal action over migrant hotels
Nigel Farage warned over Reform UK 'curse' after thumping by-election wins
Nigel Farage erupts as Keir Starmer's EU fish surrender could cost up to ￡6bn
Huge blow to Keir Starmer as councils given fresh boost in fight to shut migrant hotels
Humiliation for Keir Starmer as voters can't name a single good thing he's done
PM should fire Rachel Reeves, as almost half of UK voters don't think she's 'up to job'
Tory hints at defection to Reform as Kemi Badenoch's MPs split over migration
Former Tory on Nigel Farage in Wales - 'It was just miraculous'
Keir Starmer in crisis as his government hits lowest approval rating ever
Lee Anderson corrects deluded Labour councillor in brutal 8-word dig after claim
Nigel Farage shares bizarre clip of him 'dancing' in fur coat and bling
St George's flag is 'intimidating' and flown by people with 'unacceptable views'
Lee Anderson's booming six-word verdict as Reform soars to record lead in polls
POLL: Is St George's flag intimidating and racist? Have your say
Nigel Farage defends Angela Rayner in huge row over ￡800k third home
Lee Anderson issues brutal 11-word verdict on Epping migrant hotel court win
Moment Reform UK's Zia Yusuf EXPOSES Robert Jenrick's migration record
The top 10 most insane and hilarious moments from Brexit in full
Reform councillor, 22, sacked from top council role months into job
Furious Nigel Farage erupts at new asylum record under Labour: 'Disaster!'
The three Tory councils considering legal action over migrant hotels
Nigel Farage warned over Reform UK 'curse' after thumping by-election wins
Nigel Farage erupts as Keir Starmer's EU fish surrender could cost up to ￡6bn
Huge blow to Keir Starmer as councils given fresh boost in fight to shut migrant hotels
Shadow justice secretary Mr Jenrick, who was bested by Mrs Badenoch in last year's leadership race, has garnered a following through a series of polished social media videos, which include raising English flags and confronting fare evaders.
Mrs Badenoch dismissed it as "wishful thinking" from his supporters that he could replace her, and alleged that Mr Jenrick found the situation "distressing".
Powered By
10 Sec
ASICS launch new 'Undropped Kit' for PE
Next
Stay
Speaking to The Sunday Times, she said: "There will always be people who are sore losers, our candidate didn't win and so on, and sour grapes. When I hear those things, I can tell those people are not focused on the country at all.
Sponsored
Learn More
This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years
Undo
Kemi Badenoch defeated Robert Jenrick in the leadership contest last year (Stefan Rousseau/PA) (Image: PA Archive/PA Images)
Read more: Tory councils to fight 'incompetent' Labour with migrant hotels legal action
Read more: 'Rachel Thieves' brutally torn apart as Kemi Badenoch shares new website
"Many of those people having those conversations think this is a game. But the lives of people in this country aren't a game."
She continued: "I think even Rob himself finds it distressing, but it's just something that we deal with."
Mrs Badenoch claimed that some of the criticism directed at her was "about my race and my ethnicity" and suggestions that "she couldn't possibly have done this all by herself".
She stated that some believed she only secured her position through diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
She said: "There's a certain cadre of people who clearly can't cope with the fact that I won this and I'm doing it. The level of personal attacks from anonymous people, it's hysterical.
"Not even just from MPs. I actually don't think it's that many MPs. I think it's two to three people out of 120. That's nothing. But online as well.
"People used to talk about Trump derangement syndrome. I think there's a Kemi derangement syndrome – 'How could she possibly have done this? It must have been DEI'."
She says that on social media "there's a lot of ethno-nationalism creeping up, lots of stuff about my race and my ethnicity and the tropes around, 'well, she couldn't possibly have done this all by herself'."
She dismissed allegations she was indolent and tardy for appointments: "They will try and use the tropes about black people – that they're lazy, they're corrupt or they're all DEI hires – and it's something which I find extraordinary because I take everyone at face value."
Mrs Badenoch has thus far been unable to restore the Tories' political standing, with the party trailing behind both Reform UK and Labour in polling data, but insists her challenge is more demanding than previous opposition leaders due to the rise of a competitor on the right.
"There are now more people competing for that oxygen of attacking the Government," she said.
People are "furious because of things that Labour is doing" and "they are angry because they think that we left the country in a bad state". "I think people are legitimate in that anger."
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Nigel Farage shares bizarre clip of him 'dancing' in fur coat and bling
St George's flag is 'intimidating' and flown by people with 'unacceptable views'
Lee Anderson's booming six-word verdict as Reform soars to record lead in polls
POLL: Is St George's flag intimidating and racist? Have your say
Nigel Farage defends Angela Rayner in huge row over ￡800k third home
Lee Anderson issues brutal 11-word verdict on Epping migrant hotel court win
Moment Reform UK's Zia Yusuf EXPOSES Robert Jenrick's migration record
The top 10 most insane and hilarious moments from Brexit in full
Reform councillor, 22, sacked from top council role months into job
Furious Nigel Farage erupts at new asylum record under Labour: 'Disaster!'
The three Tory councils considering legal action over migrant hotels
Nigel Farage warned over Reform UK 'curse' after thumping by-election wins
Nigel Farage erupts as Keir Starmer's EU fish surrender could cost up to ￡6bn
Huge blow to Keir Starmer as councils given fresh boost in fight to shut migrant hotels
Shoppers Say This Wrinkle Cream Is "Actually Worth It"oneclickstories.com |
Learn More
Undo
Humiliation for Keir Starmer as voters can't name a single good thing he's done
PM should fire Rachel Reeves, as almost half of UK voters don't think she's 'up to job'
The 5 Books Warren Buffett Recommends You To Read in 2025Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List |
Undo
Tory hints at defection to Reform as Kemi Badenoch's MPs split over migration
Former Tory on Nigel Farage in Wales - 'It was just miraculous'
Undo
Keir Starmer in crisis as his government hits lowest approval rating ever
Lee Anderson corrects deluded Labour councillor in brutal 8-word dig after claim
askST Jobs: How to deal with the dread of returning to work after a holiday?The Straits Times |
Undo
Nigel Farage shares bizarre clip of him 'dancing' in fur coat and bling
St George's flag is 'intimidating' and flown by people with 'unacceptable views'
20 Photos Of Harry & Meghan's ChildrenFitDib |
Undo
Lee Anderson's booming six-word verdict as Reform soars to record lead in polls
POLL: Is St George's flag intimidating and racist? Have your say
疲倦关节痛别小看 当心藏着自身免疫病Lianhe Zaobao |
Undo
Nigel Farage defends Angela Rayner in huge row over ￡800k third home
Lee Anderson issues brutal 11-word verdict on Epping migrant hotel court win
Richard Mille RM 30-01: A Bold Tribute to Le Mans ClassicPrestigeonline.com |
Learn More
Undo
Moment Reform UK's Zia Yusuf EXPOSES Robert Jenrick's migration record
The top 10 most insane and hilarious moments from Brexit in full
TV providers are furious: this gadget gives you access to all channelsTechno Mag |
Learn More
Undo
Reform councillor, 22, sacked from top council role months into job
Furious Nigel Farage erupts at new asylum record under Labour: 'Disaster!'
Dating for Senior SinglesBestdates |
Read More
Undo
The three Tory councils considering legal action over migrant hotels
Nigel Farage warned over Reform UK 'curse' after thumping by-election wins
Undo
Nigel Farage erupts as Keir Starmer's EU fish surrender could cost up to ￡6bn
Huge blow to Keir Starmer as councils given fresh boost in fight to shut migrant hotels
Humiliation for Keir Starmer as voters can't name a single good thing he's done
PM should fire Rachel Reeves, as almost half of UK voters don't think she's 'up to job'
Tory hints at defection to Reform as Kemi Badenoch's MPs split over migration
Former Tory on Nigel Farage in Wales - 'It was just miraculous'
Keir Starmer in crisis as his government hits lowest approval rating ever
Lee Anderson corrects deluded Labour councillor in brutal 8-word dig after claim
Nigel Farage shares bizarre clip of him 'dancing' in fur coat and bling
St George's flag is 'intimidating' and flown by people with 'unacceptable views'
Lee Anderson's booming six-word verdict as Reform soars to record lead in polls
POLL: Is St George's flag intimidating and racist? Have your say
Nigel Farage defends Angela Rayner in huge row over ￡800k third home
Lee Anderson issues brutal 11-word verdict on Epping migrant hotel court win
Moment Reform UK's Zia Yusuf EXPOSES Robert Jenrick's migration record
Drone Captures Something No Human Is Supposed To SeeFitDib
Undo
Sponsored LinksSponsored Links
Grab A Tissue Before You See Tommy Steele At Almost 88Foodie Friend
Undo
Sponsored LinksSponsored Links
No more thinning hair! This bestseller at Watsons works even in 40s-60sHair’s Rich
Undo
Sponsored LinksSponsored Links
Align Treatment with Your GoalsJohnson & Johnson
Undo
Sponsored LinksSponsored Links
She compared her challenge to that of William Hague post the 1997 Labour landslide, stating: "We've got fewer MPs, and we've got this new problem with Reform taking a lot of our votes."
She acknowledged it would be "a proper uphill task", but her role was to ensure the Tories remained "a force in British politics".
Referring to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage as a "bull**** artist", she criticised his party for being "just about pulling things down and destroying things".
Read Next
SUBSCRIBEInvalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy