With the Conservatives well behind in the polls, party discipline is vitally important in the run-up to an election.
What’s not helpful is constant plotting and speculation about ousting Rishi Sunak.
It simply hands another advantage to Labour before polling day.
The public aren’t interested in the latest episode of Tory squabbling, they just want the government to get things done.
The Business Secretary – seemingly in pole position to be the next Conservative leader – warned those seeking to topple her boss to “stop messing around”, to stop “stirring”.
She says it’s only a small minority. She’s probably right.
But if the party is to have any hope of clawing back the deficit on Labour, that small minority needs to take notice.
Without wishing to sound like a trade union, the Tory party must unite.
Unite over defeating Sir Keir Starmer, unite over getting the Rwanda Bill through parliament, unite to win the general election.
Nevertheless, despite her backing for Mr Sunak, who she said must survive, Ms Badenoch didn’t rule herself out of replacing him when his time in No 10 does come to an end.
The darling of the Tory grassroots would certainly be a hugely popular choice among party members.
