Sir John Curtice has highlighted that the general public lacks awareness of Kemi Badenoch and believes that the Conservative Party has a history of failing on immigration issues. According to him, the public’s sentiment towards the Conservatives has soured due to recent events like Partygate and Liz Truss’s unsuccessful mini-budget. This has led to a decline in support for Ms. Badenoch, with Sir John questioning her ability to counter challenges from Nigel Farage’s Reform party.
In a recent interview with the Mirror before the Conservative party conference in Manchester, Sir John raised doubts about whether another leader could fare better, questioning their charisma. His observations follow a YouGov MRP poll forecasting that the Tories may only secure 45 seats in the upcoming general election.
Sir John emphasized that despite being the party responsible for delivering Brexit, the Tories are struggling to maintain popularity among both Brexit and Remain voters. He criticized Ms. Badenoch for her lack of impact on the public and her party’s failure to effectively address the rise of Reform, which is eroding Conservative support.
Regarding Ms. Badenoch’s prospects, Sir John suggested that her conference speech could be an opportunity to introduce herself to the public. However, he expressed skepticism about a successful comeback in next year’s elections, citing the challenge posed by her low visibility among the wider public.
In addressing the Tory party’s stance on immigration, Sir John noted the difficulty of competing with Reform on this issue given the Conservative Party’s track record. He pointed out the challenge of adopting a position tougher than Reform’s and the party’s struggle to regain trust due to its perceived failure in delivering on immigration issues.