Liz Truss on Kemi Badenoch
TL;DR
Liz Truss has publicly accused Kemi Badenoch of not telling the truth regarding Conservative Party failures.
Key Points
The former Prime Minister accused Kemi Badenoch of not telling the truth about Tory failures in August 2025.
Truss refused to confirm if Badenoch would be a better Prime Minister during a broadcast interview, indicating political distance.
Another politician reportedly told Badenoch to remove Truss from the Conservative Party following internal disagreements.
Summary
Liz Truss's position regarding Kemi Badenoch has been characterized by direct public confrontation, specifically centering on accusations of dishonesty about the Conservative Party's past governance issues. The former Prime Minister has asserted that the current cabinet minister is misrepresenting facts related to the period leading up to the 2022 leadership contest and subsequent policy decisions. This stance suggests a significant political rift between the two figures, especially as Badenoch has held senior roles and maintained a public profile during and after Truss's premiership. Evidence points to Truss making pointed remarks suggesting Badenoch's narrative omits key truths about government performance.
This open conflict implies a lack of current political alignment or personal reconciliation between the two figures, despite both being within the Conservative Party. While one source indicates that a different former minister was told to remove Truss from the party, Truss's direct criticism of Badenoch's truthfulness highlights a deep, ongoing personal and political tension. The confrontation appears to stem from differing interpretations of accountability for the party's record, with Truss positioning herself outside the narrative Badenoch is presenting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Liz Truss has taken a strongly critical stance toward Kemi Badenoch, publicly accusing her of dishonesty. This centers on Badenoch's statements regarding past Conservative government performance and failures. The relationship appears publicly strained due to these conflicting narratives.
The available information suggests Truss's stance has been consistently critical and confrontational regarding Badenoch's public statements. There is no indication of a recent positive shift; rather, the conflict appears ongoing as of August 2025. Therefore, the stance is not characterized as having recently evolved.
Most recently, Liz Truss explicitly stated that Kemi Badenoch was not being truthful about the reasons for the Conservative Party's previous shortcomings. This public accusation was made in the context of ongoing retrospective critiques of the government's record. Truss implied Badenoch was not providing a full account of events.
Sources6
Liz Truss accuses Kemi Badenoch of not telling truth about Tory failures
Liz Truss refuses to answer whether Kemi Badenoch would be a better Prime Minister
Robert Jenrick told Kemi Badenoch to kick Liz Truss out of the Conservatives
Badenoch speech: Liz Truss 'on steroids'
Liz Truss's plan to blame Kemi Badenoch for Tory spending crisis
Liz Truss to blame for Tory spending crisis - Kemi Badenoch
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.