# Kemi Badenoch Faces Internal Pressure to Strip Tory Peers of Whip Conservative party members push to remove peers over controversial parliamentary group memberships and stances. - **Source:** [The New European](https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk) - **Published:** 2026-11-11 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/c514884c-215f-47af-9a45-c58ce3ca4d98 ## Internal Party Conflict Escalates Kemi Badenoch faces mounting pressure to strip the Conservative whip from specific peers. Critics argue that Sandip Verma and Patricia Morris undermine party values through their involvement in cross-party groups. This internal friction emerges while the party seeks to stabilize its position in the polls following recent electoral challenges. ## The Reparations Group Controversy Sandip Verma, appointed by David Cameron in 2006, faces calls for removal due to her membership in the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Afrikan Reparations. The group advocates for a formal government apology regarding slavery. Badenoch opposes such apologies, viewing them as a potential gateway to future financial compensation demands. ## Strategic Dissolution of APPGs Stripping Verma of the whip would effectively collapse the reparations group. Parliamentary rules mandate that an APPG must include at least one member from the main opposition party to function. Without Verma, the group, currently featuring figures like Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana, would lose its official standing and fold. ## Gilligan Leads the Charge Andrew Gilligan, a former advisor to Boris Johnson, is spearheading the campaign against Verma. He labels her a useful idiot, claiming her participation grants legitimacy to causes fundamentally opposed by the Conservative Party. Gilligan argues that her presence provides these groups with essential media oxygen and a credible Westminster platform. ## Targeting Patricia Morris Beyond Verma, the party is also scrutinizing Patricia Morris, who received her peerage from Michael Howard in 2004. Her membership in the APPG on British Muslims remains a point of contention. The group previously published a 2018 report demanding a legal definition of Islamophobia, which many Conservatives continue to reject. ## Structural Impact of Removal Removing the whip from Morris would mirror the strategy used against Verma, causing the APPG on British Muslims to lose its official status. By targeting these specific individuals, party hardliners aim to dismantle cross-party platforms that they believe facilitate policies and narratives inconsistent with the current Conservative party platform. ## Badenoch’s Political Calculus As leader, Badenoch must decide if purging these peers aligns with her broader political strategy. While the party is performing relatively well in current polls, internal purges carry risks of appearing divisive. She must weigh the benefit of ideological purity against the potential for negative media coverage and internal dissent. ## Broader Implications for Governance This situation highlights the tension between party discipline and the informal nature of cross-party parliamentary groups. The potential removal of the whip serves as a tool for ideological enforcement within the House of Lords. Observers are watching to see if Badenoch prioritizes party cohesion over the existence of these groups. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/rats-in-a-sack-is-kemi-badenoch-about-to-strip-yet-more-tories-of-the-whip/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._