On Sunday, it is one year since Kemi Badenoch was elected Tory leader. The anniversary is expected to pass with little in the way of fanfare – though her supporters were cheered by a strong performance at PMQs on Wednesday. One bright spot of her reign has been a healthy return on the donations’ front. Fundraisers have been quick to tout the Tories’ record in this area, compared to both Labour and Reform UK. The Budget next month should only help party efforts…
Still, will all that be enough to keep the party in their swanky Westminster base? Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) has been run out of Matthew Parker Street since the days of David Cameron. But with the lease set to end next year, Steerpike hears increasing chatter from staff about an imminent move away. Such rumours have not been dampened by recent team drinks in Victoria, amid speculation that pubs are being scoped out ahead of a future relocation. ‘No comment’ is the press office line, but that will not be enough to put talk to bed.
For the sake of his favourite Two Chairmen pub, Mr S just hopes it is another of those awful scurrilous rumours that turns out to be false…
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