'She's a goner': Dominic Cummings predicts timing of Kemi Badenoch's downfall
Kemi Badenoch will be gone as Tory leader within a year - and there are plots already under way to oust her, Dominic Cummings has said.
The former Number 10 aide also claimed the Conservative Party "might be dead".
His remarks came in a wide-ranging interview with Sky News, in which the controversial figure, who served as Boris Johnson's chief adviser from 2019 to 2020, said Nigel Farage could "definitely" become the next prime minister.
On Ms Badenoch, who won the Tory leadership race last November, Mr Cummings said: " Kemi is going to go, probably this year.
"There's already people who are organising to get rid of her, and I think that that will work. If it doesn't work this year, it will definitely happen after next May.
"She's a goner, so there's going to be a big transition there."
0:58
In a damning indictment of the party he served, he said: "It's quite possible the Tories have just, kind of, crossed the event horizon and actually aren't salvageable.
"Like, everyone sort of assumes that because they've always been around, then somehow there must be at least one last chance for them to turn things around, but it's possible that chance is in their past and doesn't exist.
"It might be dead."
Politics Hub: Follow live updates from Westminster
Mr Cummings revealed he has held meetings with Mr Farage and advised him on how to go from "one man and an iPhone" to entering Downing Street.
Asked if the Reform UK leader could be prime minister, he said: "It could definitely happen now, yeah, because the old system's just so completely broken.
"If he does what I'm suggesting, and actually sets out a path for how Reform is going to change, how Reform is going to bring in people, how it's structurally going to alter, what it's going to build, how it is going to do policy, how it can recruit MPs, etc.
"If he does that, then there'll be a huge surge of interest and support into the whole thing."
1:37
'One man and an iPhone'
He added: "Reform has been a one-man band. It's been Nigel and an iPhone.
"They can win 50, 100, 150 seats with Reform as Nigel and an iPhone.
"But they can't win an overall general election and have a plan for government and have a serious team able to take over in Downing Street and govern and control Whitehall with one man and an iPhone."
However, the ex-Downing Street aide was also scathing about Mr Farage's personal appeal, saying it was his party, not him, that had become an outlet for anti-establishment feeling.
"It's not exactly correlated with what people think about Nigel himself," he said.
"Reform is a vehicle for people to say: 'We despise you, Westminster. We hate both the old parties, we hate Whitehall, we hate the old media, we hate the whole f***ing lot of you.'
"And Farage going up in the polls is the expression of that core feeling."
Mr Cummings left his Downing Street role in November 2020 after attracting controversy during the coronavirus lockdown when he drove to Barnard Castle in County Durham and claimed he was testing his eyesight.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
35 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Pictured: Mother who died with skydiving instructor after parachute ‘failed to open'
A mother of four and her skydiving instructor who were killed after their parachute failed to open have been pictured. Tandem jumpers Belinda Taylor and Adam Harrison fell 15,000ft to their deaths on Friday afternoon at Dunkeswell airfield, near Honiton, Devon. Fellow plane passengers said the pair's parachute and reserve parachute failed to open and both were pronounced dead at the scene. Tributes have poured in for Ms Taylor, 48, including from her partner, Scott Armstrong. 'I miss you so much, you were my best friend,' he posted on social media. 'Thank you for everything you [have] done for me, [from] making my children feel at home to putting up with my mess. 'I'm so lost without you. I feel so lost, I don't know where home is without you.' He told the Mirror he had bought the skydive as a present for his 'adrenaline junkie' girlfriend. Mr Armstrong added he was watching the jump with binoculars when he saw one of the jumpers did not have their parachute open. Ms Taylor was the mother of three adult boys and one teenage girl as well as grandmother to two children. Connor Bowles, her eldest son, paid tribute to her and told DevonLive: 'On Friday, June 13, our family lost our mum Belinda Taylor. 'She was a selfless woman who wanted only the best for others and especially her loved ones. She will be deeply missed and will leave an everlasting impression on all those she has met in life.' Mr Harrison had worked as a skydiving instructor since September 2020, according to his LinkedIn. He was also training as a chiropractor student. A passenger who jumped from the same plane as the victims but wished to remain anonymous, told The Telegraph: 'They were both lovely bright people you could tell that from being in the plane. 'They were full of smiles and jokes and were both obviously excited for this experience. They continued to joke and laugh the entire flight up to 15,000ft.' Another said Ms Taylor had been in high spirits before the fatal jump, and had been making small talk with other skydivers about their upcoming jump. The incident is being investigated by the British Skydiving Board of Inquiry. A spokesman from Devon & Cornwall Police said: 'The skydivers were sadly both confirmed deceased at the scene. Scene guards remain in place and inquiries are ongoing by the relevant agencies.'
Glasgow Times
44 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Canada agrees to ratify Britain's accession to major trans-Pacific trade pact
Ottawa will seek to introduce legislation to its parliament this autumn to formally approve Britain's entry to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The UK joined the bloc in 2024, but Canada is yet to ratify its accession – meaning Britain still faces pre-CPTPP trade barriers in exporting to the country. Following a bilateral meeting between the Prime Minister and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on Sunday, Downing Street said: 'Prime Minister Carney confirmed that Canada would ratify the UK's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), seeking to introduce legislation to their parliament in the autumn. 'This will bring huge benefits to UK businesses by lowering tariffs when buying from and selling to Canada. 'They also agreed to set up a joint taskforce to turbocharge progress on other areas of mutual benefit, including technology and artificial intelligence – in support of shared growth and our national security. 'The taskforce will also look to make progress on the wider UK-Canada Free Trade Agreement.'
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
The beauty recycling scheme that'll bag you a tenner – and how to get 50% cashback on new products too
WE'RE all looking for ways to save a bit of extra cash these days, especially with the cost of living on the rise. But what if you could earn rewards while doing your bit for the planet? 2 That's exactly what Boots is offering with their Recycle at Boots scheme - a simple and rewarding way to handle those tricky beauty and healthcare empties that can't go in your regular recycling bin. While some bathroom items, like aerosols, glass jars, and full-sized shampoo bottles, can often be recycled at home, many products made from mixed or non-recyclable materials end up in landfill. That's where Boots comes in, giving shoppers an easy solution to recycle items that kerbside collections can't manage. Customers just need to download the Recycle at Boots app, scan their empties, and within 24 hours, the app will confirm whether the items are eligible for recycling or rewards. From toothpaste tubes to lotion pumps and travel-sized cosmetics, Boots makes dealing with hard-to-recycle bits effortless - and shoppers can earn rewards while they're at it. Shoppers are loving the initiative and taking advantage of the rewards. One TikTok user, who goes by the name ' Hyperfocus_rewards ', shared her experience in a video captioned: 'It's basically 50% back on your £10 spend.' She revealed that she had 27 items approved for the recycling scheme, meaning she could exchange them for points. The scheme works by giving customers £5 worth of points on their Advantage card when they recycle five qualifying items and spend £10 in store. The TikToker explained that her basket full of recycling goods will earn her £25 worth of points - making it not just eco-friendly but wallet-friendly too. First look inside revamped Scots Boots store with Fenty and Kylie Cosmetics stands - hundreds of customers can get freebies The Recycle at Boots scheme accepts products such as toothpaste tubes, lotion pumps, and small cosmetics like mascaras or travel minis. This programme is making recycling effortless while rewarding shoppers for their eco-friendly efforts. 2 How to boost your Tesco Clubcard points The Sun's consumer editor Lynsey Barber explains how you can earn extra points on top of your grocery shop. I'm never without my Clubcard when popping in to Tesco. Not only do I earn points every time I shop, but it also means i get the lowest prices which the supermarket offers to members of its loyalty scheme. But there are plenty of other ways to maximise my points beyond just shopping in-store or online. Here are some way to supercharge your Clubcard balance and get the most out of your rewards. Happy saving! Ovo Energy Points offer: 2,500 free Clubcard points Requirements: Must be an Ovo customer paying by Direct Debit with a smart meter How to claim: Link your Ovo and Tesco Clubcard accounts Value: £25 in Tesco vouchers, or up to £50 with Clubcard Reward Partners Esso Stations with Tesco Express Points offer: 1 point for every £3 spent on fuel How to claim: Present your Clubcard at the till when paying Vauxhall Cars Points offer: 50,000 Clubcard points with a new car purchase Requirements: Buy a new car from an Authorized Vauxhall New Car Retailer and provide your Clubcard number Value: £500 in Tesco stores, or up to £1,000 with partners Note: Points exceed the standard 30,000 limit per collection period, so they'll appear in your next Clubcard statement Halfords Motoring Club Premium Points offer: 500 Clubcard points Cost: £49/year or £4.99/month for membership Additional benefits: Free MOT, 10-point car checks, 5% off motoring products, and a £10 welcome voucher Inkjet Recycling Points offer: Up to 125 points per recycled cartridge How to claim: Use recycling envelopes available in-store or within Tesco ink cartridge packs Evri Parcel Sending Points offer: 1 point for every £1 spent How to claim: Enter your Clubcard number during the checkout process on Evri Tesco Products and Services Forecourts: 1 point for every 2 litres of fuel Marketplace: 1 point for every £1 spent on partner products Mobile: 1 point for every £1 spent with Tesco Mobile Bank Credit Cards: 1 point for every £4 spent using a Tesco Credit Card
