Embattled Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch was dealt a crushing insult by LBC radio presenter Nick Ferrari on Tuesday, when he gleefully compared her tenure to that of Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim. Badenoch and Amorim both took on their respective roles in November 2024, and have presided over some of the worst results in the history of two of the UK's most successful institutions.
WATCH: Ferrari compares Badenoch to Amorim
The Conservatives have lost swathes of their councillors and members to the surging far-right vehicle of Nigel Farage, Reform. Now polling as low as 17% with the general electorate according to the latest YouGov polling, calls for Badenoch to step down have accelerated.
Badenoch was doing her media rounds on Tuesday morning, after she had addressed her members at the Conservative Party's annual conference in Manchester the day before.
Ferrari used the opportunity to direct the jibe at a slightly bemused Badenoch, comparing the politicians requests for more time to that of the Portuguese manager.
"If this was like football Mrs Badenoch, you need to look across to Old Trafford, the manager of Manchester United, Ruben Amorim, who keeps saying ‘give me time’ and keeps losing matches," said Ferrari. "You’re losing councillors, you're losing support, you're losing members. You are the Ruben Amorim of politics Mrs Badenoch."
Badenoch largely skirted around the comparison, instead focussing on her attempts to lead the party through its current predicament.
"Well, that is certainly not the case. What we are doing is shedding a lot of the baggage of the last 14 years. I remember last year, we had people defecting to Labour because Labour was doing well in the polls. Now we have people defecting to Reform, because Reform is doing well in the polls. We need people in the party who are here for the right reasons."
AdvertisementBadenoch and Amorim – two leaders destined for the chop?
It's unclear who out of Badenoch or Amorim should be more insulted by Ferrari's jibe. A recent survey of Conservative Party members found that more than half think Badenoch should leave her role. While no such poll of Red Devils supporters exists, it's not hard to think that given the Portuguese's 17 losses in just 36 competitive games at United would likely return similar numbers.
Man Utd legends continue to criticise Amorim
Several of United's most decorated players have continued to question the manager's methods of late. Paul Scholes recently claimed the Portuguese is "getting too much time" considering the lack of success on the pitch.
On the latest episode of Scholes delivered a damning verdict on Amorim's reign.
He said: "I feel like with Ruben Amorim it’s got to the point where we don’t want to talk about sacking managers all the time and Manchester United do give managers enough time.
"He’ll never get booed by the fans and it wasn’t until that Brentford game [where they lost 3-1] where I thought, ‘He’s getting a little bit too much time’ and it feels like it’s only a matter of time before things come to an end."
Wayne Rooney similarly questioned Amorim's performance on a episode of his podcast: "I just don't know what's going on. I have tried my hand in management and it didn't work out too well, I get it. Ruben Amorim is my age, he is still a young manager and I'm sure he still has a massive future, but what's going on at Man Utd, this is not Man Utd. I honestly hope he can turn it around and he does. But if you're saying to me, 'do you believe he will?', then, after everything I've seen, honestly, I've got no faith in it."
Getty Images SportMan United prepare for Liverpool clash
Unlike Badenoch, Amorim has a massive chance to quiet his detractors in the coming weeks. After the international break, United will square off against their fiercest rivals Liverpool in a Premier League clash that could have profound impact on both club's respective seasons.