Kemi Badenoch faced criticism for an erroneous statement on Brexit made during a television interview, casting doubt on her assertion of never making mistakes. During an appearance on BBC News NI, the Conservative leader mistakenly stated that Northern Ireland had voted to leave the EU, despite the region actually voting to remain in the 2016 referendum. Badenoch later corrected herself, acknowledging the vote to remain and mentioning efforts to address the situation in Northern Ireland.
As pressure mounts on Badenoch ahead of the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, where concerns over her leadership have surfaced amid challenges from Nigel Farage’s Reform party, social media users resurfaced a previous statement by Badenoch claiming she never makes gaffes.
A YouGov poll revealed that a significant portion of voters believe the Conservative Party may diminish in influence over the next decade, with nearly half expressing dissatisfaction with Badenoch’s leadership. Responding to questions about competition from Farage and defections within her party, Badenoch emphasized the Conservative Party’s commitment to serving all four nations of the UK under her new leadership, deflecting focus from past Conservative policies and redirecting scrutiny towards the current Labour government.