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Kemi Badenoch’s toilet stunt

War and famine in Ukraine and inflation and rising bills at home. These are tough times in Britain and abroad: the winning candidate for the Tory leadership will have to be able to really deal with the big issues. But, er, not every MP in the running is keen to focus on such themes. Kemi Badenoch, the surprise star in this contest, has taken a rather different approach, preferring instead to dive head-first into the culture war.

And so it was in that spirit that the Badenoch campaign sought to make something of a stunt out of the facilities at their official launch this morning. Camilla Turner, the Telegraph journalist, spotted that makeshift signs have been added to toilet doors to say ‘Men’ and ‘Ladies’.

Could it be an apparent dig at one particular candidate? Step forward Penny Mordaunt, who previously told the House of Commons from the despatch box last year that ‘trans men are men and trans women are women.’ Since then Mordaunt has tried to row back from her previous statement but given the heated debate at present over single-sex facilities, it would hardly be a surprise if rival candidates tried to make political capital out of it.

Will Badenoch’s toilets leave a Penny spent?

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Steerpike
Written by
Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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