Kemi Badenoch has initiated action against party dissenters, with Theresa May's former chief of staff, Gavin Barwell, losing the Conservative whip. The decision comes after Barwell repeatedly criticized Badenoch, accusing her of shifting the party towards a "Reform tribute act" and questioning her policy decisions.
Baroness Williams of Trafford, the Tory chief whip in the House of Lords, informed Barwell that he would not regain the whip following a leave of absence. In a letter, Williams stated that Barwell's public statements against the party leadership and his refusal to engage with internal processes fell short of the required standards for collective responsibility and mutual respect.
"Robust debate and differences of opinion have always been part of our Party's tradition," Williams wrote. "However, there is an important distinction between disagreement and conduct that undermines the discipline and mutual respect upon which any serious political party depends."
Badenoch herself has recently warned that former Conservative MPs would not be reselected as candidates if they did not support her stances on key issues, including potential withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and a more pragmatic approach to Net Zero targets. She has articulated a vision of building "a party for the future, not a retirement home for failed politicians."
Barwell, who served as May's chief of staff during her premiership and was involved in drafting her Brexit deal, has been a vocal critic of Badenoch's direction. In October of the previous year, he publicly disagreed with Badenoch's announcement that a future Conservative government would pull out of the ECHR. He also criticized her call to scrap the Climate Change Act, suggesting such policies were detrimental and positioned the party unfavorably.
Barwell is identified as a member of the Prosper group, a faction within the Conservative Party that has sought to lobby against a strong shift to the right. Other notable members reportedly include Amber Rudd, Ruth Davidson, and Andy Street. However, sources indicate that the decision to withdraw the whip from Barwell was based on his conduct and perceived attempts to undermine Badenoch, rather than solely on his political views.
Conservative insiders suggested that Barwell's behavior had been a persistent issue, with many within the party feeling that his public criticisms had crossed a line. The expectation, according to one insider, is that disagreements should be handled privately, and Barwell's refusal to meet with the Chief Whip contributed to the final decision.