Reform UK threatens to sue Kemi Badenoch over Suella Braverman mental health claim

Reform UK has threatened to sue Kemi Badenoch unless she apologises to Suella Braverman over claims about her mental health. A Tory spokesman said the party "did all we could to look after Suella's mental health, but she was clearly very unhappy" in a statement after her defection to Nigel Farage's outfit on Monday.

But the response was retracted hours later following a backlash and the claim was removed from a reissued statement. However Reform's lawyers have written to the Conservative Party headquarters accusing the party of a "defamatory smear" and demanding a public apology from leader Mrs Badenoch by 4pm tomorrow.

The letter said: “The statement was not a throwaway remark. It was a deliberate assertion, presented as fact and as deriving from the party’s purported internal knowledge, that Ms Braverman’s conduct was explicable by reference to her mental health and that the Conservative Party had taken steps to ‘look after’ it.

“That allegation is plainly capable of carrying a defamatory meaning, namely that Ms Braverman was suffering from a mental health condition affecting her judgment or fitness, and that this was known to, and managed by, her former party. The statement is untrue.

“Ms Braverman does not suffer, and has not suffered, from any mental health condition and accordingly there was no factual basis whatsoever for the allegation made. The publication, therefore, constitutes a defamatory smear.”

It added that if the claim had been true, it would have been an unlawful disclosure of personal information contrary to the Data Protection Act 2018.

The letter branded the Tories' explanation that the statement was a draft sent out in error was "wholly inadequate".

It added: “Mrs Braverman remains entitled to a clear and unequivocal public apology directed to her, acknowledging that the reference to her mental health is untrue and should never have been made and it was unjustified and improper.

“She is also entitled to written assurances that no similar statements, whether expressly or by implication, will be made in future, including by senior figures of the party in broadcast media.”

In a post on X, Mrs Braverman said it was "very disappointing that it has come to this", adding that the claim was "gisgusting behaviour by a once great party".

A source close to Mrs Braverman told the Express: "Suella is disappointed about the Conservative Party’s statement. It was false and wholly inappropriate.

"Suella has never suffered from a mental health condition in her life and it just shows how low the Conservative Party has fallen.

"To compound matters, there has been no public or private apology to Suella, despite the Conservative leader suggesting otherwise.

"This episode reinforces why no one should ever vote for the nasty party ever again. They have no shame."

Mrs Badenoch said yesterday that the statement was "completely wrong".

Speaking after a speech, the Tory leader said: “That should never have gone out. It has been retracted. And I’ve also spoken to the person who sent it.

“It was completely wrong and not the kind of culture we should have in our party.”

Mrs Badenoch added: “When we do something wrong, we acknowledge it, we say sorry and we try and fix it.”

The Conservative Party declined to comment.