Full Breakdown
Turmoil in Downing Street: Alleged Plot by Kemi Badenoch to Unseat Rishi Sunak
8/26/2026, 1:02:21 AM
The Alleged Coup Attempt
Anthony Seldon’s biography *Sunak at 10: The Last Conservative PM?* claims that in 2023 Kemi Badenoch, then business secretary, covertly sought to remove Prime Minister Rishi Sunak from No 10. The plot was allegedly abandoned because the forthcoming July 2024 general election was too close, and Badenoch feared being blamed for a likely defeat.
Lead-up to the Plot
Sunak became prime minister in October 2022 after Liz Truss’s 45-day premiership collapsed. His tenure was marked by internal pressure over a controversial immigration plan that involved deportations to Rwanda. The resignation of immigration minister Robert Jenrick in December 2023 intensified cabinet unrest. Within this context, Seldon reports that Badenoch, dissatisfied with Sunak’s “rude” demeanor, aligned with other dissenting ministers to explore a leadership change. Former MP Danny Kruger, who later defected to the Reform Party, told Seldon that Badenoch “definitely wanted” to replace Sunak but worried about becoming a “fag-end prime minister” if she pursued the move too close to the election.
Election Defeat and Aftermath
The July 2024 general election resulted in a Labour landslide, delivering a decisive defeat for the Conservatives. Seldon argues that the internal mutiny and Sunak’s perception of “attention-seeking rebels” depressed the party’s vote share. After the loss, Badenoch remained in the cabinet throughout Sunak’s premiership, later winning the Conservative leadership contest and succeeding Sunak as party leader, defeating Robert Jenrick in a members’ vote.
Official Statements & Responses
Rishi Sunak, in remarks to his aides, dismissed the alleged rebellion, saying he would not “rise to the bait” of rebels seeking to provoke him. The biography quotes Sunak as stating:
> “They probably want me to tell them to fuck off so they can pontificate, but I have a country to run. I’m not going to rise to the bait.”
Badenoch has consistently denied any disloyalty or intent to oust Sunak. The Sunak office was contacted for comment on the book’s claims, but no response was provided at the time of publication.
Verbatim Quotes
- “They probably want me to tell them to fuck off so they can pontificate, but I have a country to run. I’m not going to rise to the bait.” — Rishi Sunak, conservative prime minister
Data & Statistics
- July 2024 general election: Labour achieved a landslide victory; the Conservative Party suffered a significant loss of parliamentary seats, contributing to Sunak’s departure as prime minister.
- Cabinet turnover in 2023–2024: Robert Jenrick resigned as immigration minister (December 2023); multiple ministers were reported to have been approached by Badenoch regarding a leadership challenge.
What Next
The biography’s revelations have sparked renewed scrutiny of Conservative internal dynamics ahead of the next parliamentary session. No formal investigations have been announced, and the party’s new leadership under Badenoch has not indicated any policy shifts directly linked to the alleged 2023 plotting.
