Leadership Speculations Swirl as Badenoch and Braverman Deny Links to Campaign Websites Amid Tight Election Race

Kemi Badenoch and Suella Braverman disavow any connections to websites linked to Conservative leadership campaigns. They assert that they have no involvement with the domains purportedly set up for their leadership runs. Meanwhile, an associate of Penny Mordaunt mentioned that she maintains her domain active likening it to "keeping a spare tire in the trunk."

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Tuesday, July 2, 2024, 11:

Kemi Badenoch and Suella Braverman have refuted claims linking them to website domains that suggest they are planning future leadership campaigns.

A person familiar with Penny Mordaunt's thinking explained to Sky News that she maintained her campaign infrastructure from the 2022 contests as a precautionary measure, akin to having a backup tire in a car's trunk, and not as a preparation to oppose the Prime Minister.

Breaking news on the election: Minister criticizes Starmer for ending work at 6pm on Fridays to be with his children

Amid widespread anticipation of Rishi Sunak's defeat in Thursday's election, discussions are intensifying regarding the future trajectory of the Conservative Party and potential new leadership candidates.

Northern Ireland Minister Steve Baker has publicly expressed confidence in his prospects, while other leading Conservatives are remaining more reserved and secretive about their intentions.

This past weekend, it was revealed that a website named kemi4leader.co.in, which was created in April, now automatically forwards visitors to the homepage of the Conservative Party.

Industry Minister Ms. Badenoch is widely viewed as a leading contender from the conservative faction to replace Mr. Sunak.

Further Details on the 2024 General Election

Boris Johnson energizes supporters with a classic display, yet his brief appearance won't rescue the Conservative Party

Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak join forces to caution against the 'catastrophe' of a potential Labour government.

As the countdown continues, sources within the Labour Party are cautiously optimistic, sensing that their moment of triumph might finally be near.

Associated Subjects:

It is recommended to utilize the Chrome browser for an enhanced video player experience.

A person familiar with the situation informed Sky News that she is not associated with the website domain.

The website backingbadenoch.co.uk, which was last refreshed on June 27, presents itself as a grassroots initiative on social media platforms. According to a source, it operates completely independently from the cabinet minister.

As of now, the website kemiforprimeminister.com, which was used during Ms. Badenoch's 2022 leadership campaign, is no longer operational.

Frequently, individuals purchase and later resell website domain names that are likely to be sought after, aiming to make a profit.

Typically, such domains are parked and display a sales offer, making it uncommon for the Kemi4leader website to instead redirect users to the Conservative Party’s main page.

Ms. Braverman informed Sky News that the website Suella4leader.co.uk, which forwards visitors to her personal website, is not associated with her.

This record was created shortly after Boris Johnson stepped down as Prime Minister in July 2022 and received its latest update in June of this year.

Further Reading: Urgent probe initiated due to delays in postal votingStarmer's current backing compared to Blair's overwhelming victory in 1997

The website Ms. Braverman previously used in her campaign to succeed him, Suella4leader.com, is no longer active but remains registered.

The campaign websites had sparked rumors that the Conservatives were planning their next steps, even though the election was still two days in the future.

Both women have stepped back from the websites, yet they are frequently considered as likely successors to Mr. Sunak should he be defeated in the upcoming election.

Who might succeed Rishi Sunak?

Ms. Badenoch remains open to the idea of entering the leadership race again after finishing in fourth place in the July 2022 competition to succeed Mr. Johnson.

During a discussion hosted by Bloomberg last week, she expressed that her current position in the shadow cabinet is the "best job in the world" and mentioned that "we will discuss matters of leadership after the election, but not before."

Ms. Braverman, who has twice held the position of Home Secretary, is thought by some to have been subtly conducting a leadership campaign since her dismissal by Mr. Sunak last year. She has frequently proposed policies aimed at cutting immigration and pulling out of the European Convention on Human Rights since that time.

Similar to Ms. Badenoch, she aligns with the conservative wing of the Tory party, though there are calls for the Conservatives to shift toward a more centrist position.

Leader of the House of Commons, Ms. Mordaunt, is widely regarded as a leading candidate to steer the party towards that course.

For optimal video playback, it is recommended to use the Chrome browser.

Mordaunt estate remains active

Her "PM for PM" campaign website, established in 2022, now forwards visitors to her own personal website and received its latest update in May.

The decision to maintain its status was taken to avoid its expiration rather than as a move against current leadership, according to someone close to her. When questioned about her reasons for doing so, they explained: "It's like keeping a spare tire in your trunk."

Ms. Mordaunt was recently rumored to be involved in a scheme to remove Mr. Sunak from power, a claim she vehemently denied.

Numerous members of the Conservative Party are tired of ongoing discussions about leadership in light of the disastrous occurrences of 2022.

Should Mr. Sunak step down as leader following the election, the Conservative Party would find itself selecting its sixth leader in a span of eight years.

Labour highlighted Mr. Baker's remarks to Sky News on Monday, where he expressed that he "wouldn't mind the opportunity" to lead the party.

Stay ahead with the latest Breaking News

Download the Sky News application at no cost

Conservatives openly displaying leadership aspirations

Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow Paymaster General, expressed astonishment that with less than 60 hours to go until polls open, Conservative ministers were openly displaying their leadership aspirations on national television, thereby undermining the prime minister.

The leadership of the Tories will be determined by who withstands the political storm predicted to occur during the elections.

In a dire situation, the party might shrink to fewer than 100 seats, with numerous cabinet members facing the possibility of losing their positions.

This group comprises Ms. Mordaunt, as well as Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and Defense Secretary Grant Shapps.

Associated Subjects

Footer for Sky News

Information about Sky News

Services Provided by Sky News

Channels under Sky

Additional Sky Websites