Tory management: Kemi Badenoch in vicious swipe at rival Jenrick – ‘I’ve by no means been sacked’

Tory leadership hopeful Kemi Badenoch took a brutal swipe at rival Robert Jenrick, saying “I’ve never been sacked”.

Ms Badenoch, who is widely expected to be announced as Rishi Sunak’s successor next Saturday, claimed party members “don’t want someone who was sacked, who had impropriety, ministerial code issues and so on”.

Mr Jenrick was embroiled in controversy in 2020 after approving a huge property development put forward by Tory donor Richard Desmond. It later emerged Mr Desmond had lobbied him at a fundrasing event. Mr Jenrick’s decision would have saved the businessman around £40million – as it was made before a rise in council community charges.

Mr Jenrick didn’t contest a judicial review that said his actions were unlawful, and he was kicked out by Boris Johnson during a reshuffle the following year. Ms Badenoch said party members “know I have integrity” and said there would be “no scandal” if she was party leader.

In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph she said: “I was never sacked for anything, I didn’t have to resign in disgrace or, you know, because there was a whiff of impropriety. Everything has always been above board.

“I think that that’s something that we really need to think about for who is going to be leader.” A key survey of party members by Conservative Home suggested Ms Badenoch has the support of 55%, compared to Mr Jenrick’s 33%. Just 14% are undecided.

But her rival insisted it is still “neck and neck”. The two hard-right candidates are going to head-to-head as Tory members – who previously inflicted Liz Truss on the nation – pick their favourite. The duo have publicly disagreed over Ms Badenoch’s campaign, which has been light on policy. Mr Jenrick has insisted members should know what they’re voting for.

Following Conservative Home’s results, based on a survey of 828 party members, he was asked if it was all over for him. Mr Jenrick responded: “Absolutely not. This is neck and neck.

“That’s a survey, not a poll. The last poll that we had was done by YouGov several weeks ago, and showed it was absolutely neck and neck, the tightest leadership race that we’ve had for many years. There’s everything to fight for and I’m certainly going off around the country, as I have throughout the summer, and I think my message is resonating with members and with the public that we need to learn our lessons.”

And in a dig at Ms Badenoch, he said: “(Members) don’t want vague promises of policy commissions which will report back in months or years to come. They want action now.”

The Mirror has contacted Mr Jenrick’s team for comment.