Kemi Badenoch has kicked off her bid to be the next Tory leader with a video taking aim at none other than former Doctor Who actor, David Tennant.
The former trade and business secretary now sits in the shadow cabinet, but is looking to be elected as Rishi Sunak’s replacement.
After facing backlash for going on holiday over the summer when some of her other rivals were launching their own leadership campaign, it seems Badenoch is back with a bang – and parking herself firmly at the centre of the culture wars.
On Sunday, she released a short video announcing the details of her campaign launch on social media which curiously began with a clip of Tennant at the LGBTQ Awards from June.
When he accepted the prize for being the “best ally”, Tennant said: “Until we wake up and Kemi Badenoch doesn’t exist anymore – I don’t wish her ill I just wish she would shut up.”
Badenoch, who also served as the women and equalities minister, has often been criticised for her stance on trans rights.
In the general election campaign, she said her party would amend the Equality Act so any references to sex would mean biological sex – a policy which sparked outrage from activist figures like Tennant.
But Badenoch chose to include the actor’s fury in her campaign clip, followed by her own rebuttal.
More than two months after Tennant’s comments, she said: “No, I will not shut up.
“When you have that kind of cultural establishment trying to keep Conservatives down, you need someone like me, who is not afraid of Doctor Who or whoever, and who is going to take the fight to them and not let them try and keep us down.
“That’s not going to happen with me.”
She then concludes the clip by changing direction slightly, saying: “And also it’s not Bad-enoch, it’s Badenoch, there is no bad in my name.
“I just want people to be clear on that!”
Tomorrow, I launch my @renewal2030 campaign to be the next leader of our great Conservative Party.
— Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) September 1, 2024
Join me at 11.00am, here on X! pic.twitter.com/yAalIDVM9M
The clip certainly made an impression, racking up more than two million views in less than 24 hours.
But the online feedback suggests people were... less than impressed – many people decided it was “embarrassing” or “weird” to attack a famous actor.
David Tennant will be remembered long after you've become scarcely more than an embarrassing and forgettable little footnote in the history of one of the bleakest and nastiest periods of political governance in the UK.
— Miffy (@miffythegamer) September 1, 2024
Do you understand how embarrassing it is for someone who wants to be the next Prime Minister leading with how they've got beef with the guy from Doctor Who? https://t.co/MRoeePQfqw
— Ash Sarkar (@AyoCaesar) September 2, 2024
‘David Tennant told me to shut up but I don’t want to shut up’ is the weirdest marketing campaign I’ve ever seen https://t.co/gRMXuKdSf7
— rhys (@rhyssuxx) September 1, 2024
Don’t think the answer to winning just 121 seats at the election is to come after one of the most beloved cultural figures in Britain https://t.co/T1gypDlR7O
— Will (@willglloyd) September 1, 2024
Can’t stop laughing at “I’m going to take the fight to Doctor Who”. Get a job! https://t.co/N12HoLtuSO
— Sean (@seanbeegee) September 2, 2024
It's hilarious watching them unironically think "Yep picking a fight with Dr Who will resonate with the public!" https://t.co/C2WGo6lamT
— Tharries (@TharriesYT) September 1, 2024
I am sceptical that "I am not afraid of Doctor Who" is a winning Conservative message https://t.co/EGOcZZ004K
— Oli Dugmore (@OliDugmore) September 2, 2024
After the worst electoral defeat in decades, I decided I’d base my leadership campaign on going after national treasure, David Tennant. https://t.co/Yb6jiBJPSApic.twitter.com/LSvGbIuVUY
— MΛƬƬ ???? (@hxll_mxtt) September 1, 2024
Badenoch is up against Priti Patel, Mel Stride, Tom Tugendhat,James Cleverly and Robert Jenrick in the leadership race.
In response to the Badenoch footage, a rival camp said: “Kemi’s spot-on. We need to keep attacking Dr Who, not cap migration, and take a five year holiday.
“No wonder her campaign has written off the next general election.”