Allegations in new biography
A newly published book by political biographer Anthony Seldon alleges that Conservative cabinet minister Kemi Badenoch sought to gauge support for removing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak months before the general election. Seldon, who has written biographies of every British prime minister since John Major, reports that Badenoch telephoned several colleagues to ask “if anyone was interested in changing the captain”.
The claim is presented as an allegation in Seldon’s account rather than a contemporaneous record of a formal challenge. The report specifies that Badenoch was serving as business secretary at the time of the alleged conversations, and that the outreach occurred in the run-up to the national vote.
Context and sourcing
Seldon is a prominent historian and commentator on British politics; his recent work chronicles decisions and manoeuvres within the Conservative party in the period before the election. The allegation about Badenoch is one of several episodes Seldon recounts to illustrate rivalries and uncertainty among senior Tories in that timeframe.
Public responses and subsequent developments
The book passage summarised here presents Seldon’s interpretation of private conversations. It does not detail any formal leadership bid or set out who, if anyone, responded positively to the alleged approach. The account adds to a series of published reports and memoirs that have examined internal Conservative Party dynamics in the months preceding the election.
Broader implications
If accurate, the episode described by Seldon would underscore persistent tensions within the Conservative frontbench and the fragility of leadership during politically charged periods. The allegation contributes to the wider public record about decision-making and allegiance among senior party figures ahead of a pivotal national vote.