Shadow Housing Secretary James Cleverly had been tasked with introducing the Tory leader Kemi Badenoch at the Conservative local elections campaign launch in London
The Tories have been mocked after attempts to boast of Kemi Badenoch ’s “best bits” backfired.
Shadow Housing Secretary James Cleverly had been tasked with introducing the Tory leader at the Conservative local elections campaign launch in London.
However, after promising activists a video showing the highlights of her leadership, Mr Cleverly then had to give up after it failed to appear on the numerous screens.
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Addressing the Tory faithful, he said: “Let’s just remind ourselves with a quick look at her best bits.” After it failed to appear, he continued “this is where the video comes on please.” As Tory supporters looked on at televisions alternating between a slideshow and a black screen, the senior Tory tried to laugh it off. He said: “Okie dokie, I am going to give it another second. Actually you know what ladies and gentlemen, forget the video. Let’s just listen to Kemi Badenoch.”
The incident took place in front of the majority of the top Tory team, who could only watch on as the video failed to load. Labour MPs ridiculed the gaffe, with Labour MP Jonathan Brash joking “I think it worked fine”. Posting on X, Labour MP Tris Osborne said: “Not the only thing that’s not working. Offensively called for a war in Middle East. Rubbished the hard work of our RAF. Unable to challenge the baiting of minorities from her Shadow bench Weak leadership, poor judgement, not in the detail.”
A Labour source added: “Ironically the wait for the video lasted far longer time than anyone could fill with Badenoch’s ‘best bits’- there aren’t any. Perhaps they should have used the time to finally apologise to the British people for the state they left the country in. We’ll wait…”
It came as Ms Badenoch promised the Tories are “coming back”. She said: “I have amazing councillors and candidates up and down the country, and last year many of them lost seats undeservedly, despite doing a good job, because there was still a hangover from the record of the last government. We are coming back. That is the message – a Conservative vote is going to get you what you want.