The Conservative Party is facing challenges – is its leader among them?

Kemi Badenoch, the current Conservative Party leader, is facing challenges as the party continues to struggle with internal issues and external competition from Reform UK. Since taking office in July 2024, following the party's election loss, there have been concerns about her leadership and the direction of the party.

The Conservatives' poor performance in recent local elections and their declining poll numbers have raised questions about whether the party can recover and effectively oppose the Labour government. Some within the party see the rise of Reform UK as an existential threat, particularly as the two parties vie for the same right-wing voters.

Badenoch's approach to policy development, which involves a series of reviews, has been criticized by some colleagues as allowing Reform to fill the vacuum. Others defend her, pointing to policy reversals she has already announced, such as changes to inheritance tax on farms and the European Convention on Human Rights.

The financial state of the party and the operations at its headquarters, CCHQ, have also been sources of tension, with shadow cabinet members reporting difficulty in obtaining necessary advisers due to a lack of funds.

While some MPs argue that Badenoch deserves more time to prove herself, others are more pessimistic and question whether the party can survive in its current form. The next set of local elections, as well as the Scottish and Welsh parliamentary elections, are seen as a crucial test for the Conservatives.

The situation is complicated by the potential for defections to Reform UK, with some worrying that the party may start to lose not just current MPs but also future talent to the rival party. However, some within the Conservative Party remain optimistic that Reform's popularity is temporary and that the party will naturally rebound over time. BBC report