In what was meant to be a punchy takedown of Keir Starmer, Badenoch accused the Labour leader of dodging accountability by skipping PMQs to attend a NATO summit. Instead of landing a hit, she triggered mockery, internal criticism — and arguably gave Starmer one of his best comebacks yet.
🎤 The Mic-Drop Moment
Starmer didn’t hesitate. His response?
“She’ll never be PM — and if she were, they’d just put a note on the seat that says ‘I’m busy at PMQs.’”
Boom. The House erupted. And Badenoch, who had tried to frame Starmer as neglecting his duties, suddenly looked petty and performative.
🤐 Even Tories Weren’t Impressed
The criticism wasn’t just from Labour benches. Even Conservative MP Mark Pritchard called Badenoch’s comments “unhelpful,” warning that national security isn’t political playtime. Ouch.
There’s a lesson here — attacking someone for attending international security summits doesn’t just feel unserious. It actually is unserious. And in an election season already full of noise, voters notice when a leader wastes airtime on cheap digs instead of substance.
📉 The Fallout
Let’s be honest: Badenoch’s team probably thought this was going to be a clever headline. Instead, she walked into a trap. Her PMQs strategy came across as:
- Over-scripted
- Lacking improvisation
- Weirdly obsessed with optics over outcomes
She ended up reinforcing the very narrative Labour wants: that she’s reactive, not ready.
🧭 Big Picture: A Leadership Test?
Kemi Badenoch is still relatively new to the front-and-centre role many Tories are eyeing her for. But these kinds of slip-ups matter. PMQs is where leaders prove they’re quick, composed, and credible.
This week? Starmer won the room. Badenoch lost the thread.