Book Claims Kemi Badenoch Sought to Remove Rishi Sunak as PM Before Election

According to an excerpt from the book reported by the Guardian, Badenoch directly contacted several cabinet colleagues to sound them out about replacing Sunak as party leader. Seldon, who has written political biographies of every prime minister since John Major, portrays the plot as a behind-the-scenes effort to force a change at the top well before the 2024 general election campaign was in full swing.

The book does not name the ministers Badenoch allegedly contacted, nor does it specify whether any of them expressed willingness to join the move. At the time, Badenoch was serving as Business Secretary in Sunak’s government, a position she held until the election. She has been a prominent figure on the right of the Conservative Party and was widely seen as a potential future leadership contender.

The claim, if true, would represent one of the most serious internal challenges to Sunak’s authority during his premiership, which began in October 2022 after Liz Truss’s brief tenure. Conservative MPs had already been deeply divided over policy direction, and Sunak struggled to unify the party amid a large polling deficit against Labour.

Badenoch has not yet publicly responded to the allegation. A spokesperson for the former business secretary declined to comment when approached by the Guardian. Neither Sunak’s office nor the Conservative Party headquarters has issued a statement.

Political analysts note that the timing of the alleged plot – months before the election – suggests that Badenoch and other senior Tories were already pessimistic about the party’s electoral prospects and were considering a leadership change to improve their chances. However, no such change occurred, and Sunak led the Conservatives into the election, which resulted in a landslide victory for Keir Starmer’s Labour Party.

The book is expected to be released later this week and will likely contain further revelations about the internal dynamics of the Conservative government in the run-up to the election. Seldon’s previous works have been praised for their detailed sourcing and insider accounts, though they have also faced criticism for over-reliance on unnamed sources.

Why This Matters

Leadership legitimacy: The claim raises questions about the stability of Sunak’s government and whether his authority was already undermined from within before the election.
Conservative Party future: Badenoch remains a leading contender for the next leadership contest; the allegation could shape her standing among MPs and party members.
Precedent for disloyalty: If confirmed, the plot would highlight a pattern of internal Conservative Party disunity that has persisted since the Brexit referendum.

Background

Rishi Sunak became prime minister in October 2022 after Liz Truss’s 49-day premiership collapsed. He inherited a party fractured over economic policy, immigration, and the legacy of Boris Johnson. Throughout 2023, Sunak struggled to close a persistent polling gap with Labour, leading to periodic speculation about a leadership challenge. Badenoch, a rising star on the party’s right, had been a vocal critic of some government policies, particularly on net zero and public spending. The claim in Seldon’s book, set months before the election, suggests that senior figures viewed Sunak as a liability and considered replacing him well before the campaign. The book’s publication comes as the Conservatives prepare for a leadership election in the aftermath of their defeat.

Key Perspectives

Kemi Badenoch’s camp: No comment has been made, but allies may dispute the characterization of her actions, arguing that informal leadership discussions are a normal part of political life and do not constitute a plot. Rishi Sunak’s supporters: They will likely treat the allegation as further evidence of destructive infighting within the party that hindered Sunak’s ability to govern effectively. Critics/Skeptics: The claim comes from a single source – Anthony Seldon’s book – and relies on unnamed accounts. Without corroboration, the allegation remains unproven and could be seen as a sensationalist revelation to sell books.

What to Watch

Badenoch’s public response: If she denies the allegation outright, it could damage Seldon’s credibility; if she avoids the question, the story may persist.
Reactions from other cabinet ministers named or implied: They may come forward to confirm or deny the conversations.
The Conservative Party’s leadership election timeline: The revelation could influence the internal dynamics of the race, particularly if Badenoch runs.

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