Ex-Tory chair who called party Islamophobic backs Badenoch and then changes her mind

A former Tory peer who called out her own party for being Islamophobic has in a shock move given her backing to Kemi Badenoch, saying she “hopes and prays” that the candidate will bring sanity to the Conservatives.

But then pulled a spectacular U-turn and decided to boycott the contest.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Sayeeda Warsi, who has recently published her book Muslims Don’t Matter, said she might regret voting for Ms Badenoch but sees her as the least bad option.

She said: “I know I am probably going to regret doing this but I also know the alternative is far far worse. Taking a chance on Kemi.

“Hoping and praying she can find a way back to sane, non culture war, grown up, serious and trusted politics once this leadership battle is over.”

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The comment seems to be more of an indictment of Ms Badenoch’s rival in the final two, Robert Jenrick, who has been campaigning on an openly right-wing ticket to withdraw Britain from the European Convention on Human Rights and has taken a strongly pro-Israel, anti-Hamas stance on the war in Gaza. Baroness Warsi has previously been enraged by Mr Jenrick wearing a shirt bearing the words “Hamas are terrorists”.

Baroness Warsi recently quit the parliamentary party when an investigation was launched into her language, but still gets a vote as an ordinary party member.

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The peer, who was made party chair by David Cameron in the coalition government, has previously accused the Tories of Islamophobia, but was investigated for describing Rishi Sunak as a “coconut” – a derogatory term meaning a person of colour who is perceived to have betrayed their racial origins. The term has been applied to Ms Badenoch as well, following her criticism of identity politics.

But Baroness Warsi’s support for Ms Badenoch was not publicly welcomed by the former business and trade secretary’s team. A source close to the leadership candidate simply replied with an emoji showing gritted teeth.

In a sign of the current state of the Tory party, an ally of her rival Mr Jenrick messaged: “Well that’s a massive boost for the Jenrick camp.”

But within 24-hours, Baroness Warsi announced she was changing her mind after being lobbied by Tory members on the left of the party. This despite leading One Nation former minister Damian Green backing Ms Badenoch.

In a lengthy tweet, Warsi said: “Conservative colleagues whom I consider friends have argued that those of us that want the party to find its way back must actively work with the least worst option and persuade her to change. It was my first instinct too.

“The last 24 hours of phone calls , messages and emails from decent sensible people many former and current Conservatives and others urging me not to align myself with even the least worst candidate, pointing out concerning statements, on mental health and minority rights particularly, have persuaded me to think again.

“Many have highlighted the Tory Reform Group of One Nation Conservatives position of not endorsing either candidate because they have ‘used rhetoric and focused on issues which are far and away from the party at its best’.”

She added: “Applying my parents long standing advice - I slept on it. In politics we should be prepared to think again , be persuaded and acknowledge that a decision we thought was right may not be so. And we should be brave and courageous enough to want ‘a party at its best’ rather than settle for least worst. I have decided to sit this one out. I will not be posting my ballot paper.”