General · 9 May 2026
Badenoch vows Conservatives are coming back after local losses
Kemi Badenoch struck a defiant tone after significant Conservative losses in the May 2026 local elections, insisting the party is "coming back" and that "the country needs us." Her leadership faces ongoing scrutiny, though no formal challenge has emerged. A key potential rival, Robert Jenrick, is no longer a threat having defected to Reform UK in January 2026.
Reported by BBC · How we write briefs