WATCH: Kemi Badenoch branded Britain's 'fastest improving politician' by Oscar Reddrop
Jan 19, 2026
Kemi Badenoch has been issued a stark warning for the future of the Conservatives following a second high-profile Tory defection to Reform UK.Speaking to GB News, political commentator Oscar Reddrop predicted the Tory leader is facing "tough times" ahead as the May elections loom closer.FULL STORY HERE.
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0:00
Did this one take you by surprise? Is Andrew Rosendale a loss to the Tories
0:04
Not in the slightest. I mean, to be fair to someone like Andrew, he was kind of the reform party before it existed
0:12
I mean, so in that sense, no surprise at all. I think the momentum that I think conservatives will be nervous about, though
0:19
is that floodgates now opening since the generic defection. What I would say, if we just go back to last week and now looking forward
0:28
is what Kemi did do, and people got really caught up in Westminster about how she got ahead of it, you know, the leak, the document that was found
0:35
and that was all very interesting. But I think the next day people woke up and just saw Conservatives weaker
0:40
reforms stronger. But what it did do, and this is a question, so I'm not going to be stupid enough to make any predictions here
0:46
but what it also did is I think it slightly kneecapped the conversations
0:51
that I imagine Farage and Jenrick would have been having, which was, if you do come
0:57
can we line up 10 or 15 MPs to come with you That the key for me here Rob yes we want you yes you great but we can really eat that party from the inside if you can bring your loyalists along with you
1:09
And Kemi kind of puncturing all of that and making them rush, you know, it could have been weeks in advance
1:15
how she rushed the announcement forward, I think might put a bit of glue in the machine on that
1:23
And yes, if we'll see with Rosendale, if it begins and ends with Rosendale
1:27
then actually I think the Conservative Party and Kemi will feel solidified in many ways
1:33
and that loyalty that is engendered within the party. However, if this is just a drip, drip, drip we're going to see
1:41
then it's really, really tough times for the Conservative Party. Yeah, I mean, I think, you know, you're absolutely right in terms of this may have taken Nigel Farage a bit by surprise
1:54
which is why in that news conference that he gave when Robert Jenrick joined reform he said look there is now a window open for you but it closing and closing fast It unlikely to be the last though isn it Because really what we might well be seeing now is this move to suck up effectively the right of the Conservative Party
2:20
Those that have been much more willing to be critical of immigration policies, for instance
2:27
Yeah, no, no, I get it. And I understand, you know, I imagine the decision from Rosendale was something that he did not take lightly
2:35
This is he's been a Tory MP since 2001. You know, the Conservative Party is in his blood and there'll be others like him
2:41
What I would say is and this applies to both reform voters out there and conservative voters in many ways
2:48
but particularly Conservative MPs right now, is there is a really, really ineffectual government
2:56
in charge of this country at the moment that is lurching from pillar to post
3:00
from U to diplomatic crises domestic policy on the floor And as a Conservative MP you should absolutely stick behind Kemi right now
3:12
Kemi, and I don't care what anybody says, and people might watch this and laugh
3:16
but I think Kemi is the fastest improving politician we have in this country
3:21
It's quite a low bar to begin with, to be honest. That is fair. The bar is pretty low these days
3:26
But nonetheless, her trajectory is heading, I think, in a very, very, very good place
3:31
And if you're a Conservative MP, remember, remember, you have a duty to hold this government to account from opposition
3:40
And I understand that the reform movement is pretty special at the moment
3:44
I mean, it is ramping up. But remember, just very, very quickly, remember your loyalty
3:50
It's important in life. So you don't think we're witnessing the extinction of the Tory party, that the Tory party is going to be replaced by Reform UK
3:59
Well, I mean, come back to me in a couple of weeks and I might feel a little bit more nervous by answering that question
4:06
But no, of course not. I mean..
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