Kemi Badenoch's fortunes in the Conservative leadership stakes have taken an unexpected turn, with her poll numbers rising significantly after she condemned the murder of Henry Nowak, a Polish national who was brutally attacked by a group of teenagers. As the far-right seeks to exploit this incident for their own gain, it remains to be seen whether Badenoch's response will reap long-term benefits for her leadership campaign.
Badenoch's condemnation of the murder and expression of sympathy for Nowak's family was seen as a deliberate attempt to shift public perception and distance herself from Nigel Farage's Reform UK Party, which has been accused of using the incident for its own political advantage. In contrast, Keir Starmer's Labour Party seized on the opportunity to praise the Conservatives' response, highlighting an unusual moment of cross-party cooperation.
The improvement in Badenoch's ratings is a significant boost to her campaign, coming as it does ahead of a looming general election. With her party facing internal divisions and criticism that she is too confrontational, Badenoch will be eager to maintain this momentum and convince wavering MPs of her leadership credentials.
However, not all Conservatives are convinced by the latest polls. Some have expressed concerns that Badenoch's focus on delivering a strong public message comes at the expense of addressing internal party divisions. Her team, however, remains defiant, arguing that her ratings reflect her unwavering commitment to the party's core values and its ability to appeal to a broad coalition of voters.