Kemi Badenoch slaps down bullying allegations in first showdown of Tory leadership race

KEMI Badenoch slapped down bullying allegations in the first showdown of the Tory leadership race.

She tore into The Guardian after the paper published claims by officials of her behaviour in Government.

PA

Kemi Badenoch has slapped down bully claims made against her[/caption]

AP

James Cleverly said he was in a ‘unique’ position to unite the party[/caption]

Former Business Secretary Ms Badenoch said The Guardian “does not like” what she has to say on things like race relations and gender ideology.

The frontrunner to replace Rishi Sunak was replying to questions from party members at a private hustings in Cirencester, Gloucs, yesterday.

She said the paper was “scared”, adding: “Having someone like me as leader of the Conservative Party, when they have tried to portray us as a racist party, the party that doesn’t like women, and they make all awful arguments about our country’s history.

“Having me lead the party is a refutation of every single thing that they stand for and we must not let them win.”

James Cleverly told the event he was in a “unique” position to unite the party having served as Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary and party chairman.

He said: “A leader has to be in a position to reach across all of the viewpoints within the Conservative family. I can do that.”

Ex-Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said he wanted to spend three per cent of GDP on defence and would cut the aid budget if necessary to fund it.

Former Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said they must make the party “ready to win”, starting with May’s council elections.

Former Home Secretary Priti Patel and ex-Security Minister Tom Tugendhat also took part.