THE Tory leader’s energetic defence of the Jewish community helped her party outperform expectations at Thursday’s local elections, her strategists believe.
Tory HQ pointed to Kemi Badenoch’s sharp rebuke of a heckler over anti-Semitism, which they believed ‘cut through’ to voters.
At the campaign stop in Essex, Mrs Badenoch said: ‘The people who have died and who’ve been killed are Jewish people in synagogues. Let’s stop pretending that something else is happening.’
In an election marred by rampant anti-Semitism, internal Tory pollsters believe it was a significant moment – and in areas with large Jewish populations, like Barnet, campaigners hailed the ‘Kemi effect’. There, the Tories overcame a strong Labour majority to force them off the council.
The Prime Minister was booed in the aftermath of the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green.
Tory strategists noted the difference in how their leader was ‘positively’ received in north London.
Zack Polanski was also slammed for his response to the anti-Semitic attacks. He blamed the police for kicking the knifeman and stood by earlier comments that Jewish people suffer from ‘a perception of anti-Semitism’.
Meanwhile, scores of Green candidates were accused of anti-Semitism during the campaign – many of whom the party stood by.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch smiles before a speech in Westminster
Green Party leader Zack Polanski speaking at a rally in Cardiff, South Wales while on the campaign trail for the 2026 local elections
Saiqa Ali, who was arrested for anti-Semitic posts online, won her Lambeth council seat for the Greens but is currently ‘suspended pending investigation’.
She allegedly claimed Donald Trump was ‘owned by Jews’ and that 9/11 was a ‘false flag attack’ by Israel. Meanwhile Tina Ion, a Green candidate in Newcastle, runs a social media account called ‘The real Anne Frank’.
Using it, she seems to have posted a picture of industrial machinery, writing: ‘Zionist juicer. Feet first of course.’ She also allegedly wrote: ‘Israel must be eradicated. Even if it means killing every single Zionist.’
The Green Party has withdrawn its support for her and said it was undertaking an ‘urgent review’ of its vetting process.
And Chandni Chopra, now a Green councillor in Newcastle, allegedly harassed her local MP, Chi Onwurah, over Gaza. She also allegedly denied Hamas raped women in the October 7 massacre.
James Cleverly, Tory communities spokesman, said: ‘Labour has let down British Jews, failing to take serious action to tackle the dangers they face. The Greens, meanwhile, offered up openly anti-Semitic candidates at the local elections.
‘Kemi Badenoch, in contrast, has been crystal clear that the level of anti-Semitism in our country is an emergency. That honesty has clearly resonated with people.’
Ms Badenoch is the most popular leader, according to most pollsters. But her personal appeal far outstrips her party’s popularity.
Tory strategists must now work out how to convert that into votes for the party, which suffered heavy losses outside London.
