Kemi Badenoch is facing allegations of attempting to present Conservative Party members as ordinary citizens in a bold move on social media.
The embattled Tory leader posted a video featuring herself and James Cleverly visiting a woman’s home to discuss stamp duty grievances. Although the video does not explicitly state it, the woman opening the door is Seena Shah, who ran as a Conservative candidate in the 2019 general election.
In the video, Shah expressed to Badenoch and Cleverly that she knew people who delayed expanding their families due to stamp duty concerns. Also present but unidentified was Louise McKinlay, the Conservative deputy leader of Essex County Council.
A source from the Labour party criticized Badenoch, claiming that she was caught fabricating a scenario where a local Conservative association chair was portrayed as an ordinary citizen endorsing policies. The source insinuated that such actions revealed the desperation within the Conservative party.
Shah shared the video on her Instagram account, where she identified herself as a member of the Conservative Party. In the video, she emphasized the impact of stamp duty on people’s decisions regarding family planning and housing.
McKinlay nodded in agreement during the conversation, highlighting the impact of political changes on personal decisions. Shah, a former Tory candidate and current councillor, expressed her views on the British economy and the benefits of abolishing stamp duty during the meeting with Badenoch.
Badenoch, who promised to eliminate stamp duty if the Tories regain power, reiterated the party’s commitment to this policy in the video, emphasizing its potential to positively impact many individuals.
When sharing the video on social media, Badenoch tagged McKinlay but did not tag Shah. The Mirror has reached out to Tory headquarters and McKinlay for their comments on the situation.