Badenoch and Jenrick’s performance was reminiscent of Kramer vs Kramer

Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch faced off on the BBC as they vie for the Tory leadership
Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch faced off on the BBC as they vie for the Tory leadership - Jeff Overs/BBC / PA

Someone at the Laura Kuenssberg show really loves the drama. Not only did they air a pre-recorded interview with Rosie Duffield – the hot anger of her resignation letter still clear from her demeanour – they also played it back to a senior Labour Cabinet minister while a live-camera screen recorded his reaction, Jeremy Kyle-style.

As if this were not enough, they also aired back-to-back grillings with Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick. The pair perched next to each other in a Kramer vs Kramer seating arrangement; mutual dislike almost dripping through the upholstery. Jenrick, with his prison haircut, was perhaps attempting to exude toughness. But Kemi, who was trying very hard to smile and appear friendly, looked, if anything, more threatening.

They were first asked to say something about the other that they admired. Jenrick praised his rival’s “directness”. For Badenoch it was Jenrick being a “family man” (with whom she no doubt looks forward to his spending a lot more time over the coming years).

After a toss of the coin, Jenrick elected to go first. Kuenssberg mostly quizzed Jenrick about his migration policies – with the occasional bizarrely phrased question. She wondered whether, under Jenrick’s immigration cap, there would still be enough carers and nurses, enough staff to work the bars and restaurants, when people “come to London for a special weekend of treats”. Did someone say treats? A snout somewhere in a Covent Garden penthouse gave a loud squeal.

Kemi Badenoch praised Robert Jenrick's 'family man' status when asked to say something admirable about him
Mrs Badenoch praised Robert Jenrick’s ‘family man’ status when asked to say something admirable about him - JEFF OVERS/BBC / AFP

If Kuenssberg’s aim had been to extract a “gotcha”, then Jenrick did a passable job of steering around the rocks. If anything, his interview was quite dull.

Not so, Kemi Badenoch. Kuenssberg immediately zoned in on her recent remarks about not all cultures being “equally valid” – the sort of thing that was received wisdom until the day before yesterday, but is nowadays deemed controversial. Which cultures was she referring to, asked Kuenssberg. “Cultures that believe in child marriage… or that women don’t have equal rights,” said Badenoch, matter-of-factly. It was hard to argue against this. Kuenssberg’s discomfort was clear. No “gotchas” would be forthcoming today.

Robert Jenrick's interview came across as quite dull compared with that of Kemi Badenoch
Mr Jenrick’s interview came across as quite dull compared with that of Mrs Badenoch - JEFF OVERS/BBC / AFP

Sunday’s sacrificial tribute from the Government was Pat McFadden – Labour’s answer to Mel Stride. You can tell things are going badly for them when the old reliables are wheeled out. Gone are the days when they would blithely allow David Lammy into a television studio; the interview equivalent of letting a three-year-old play with a hacksaw. Instead, we had McFadden staring serenely at the camera, an air of George Smiley about him.

They first played back a video of Rosie Duffield bemoaning Keir Starmer’s “hypocrisy” and penchant for “grubby presents”. (Somewhere, in a property almost certainly owned by Lord Alli, the wide little snout momentarily lifted itself up from the trough to snort – but with indignation this time, rather than delight). Still, McFadden is a more effective fire blanket than most of his colleagues: dull, careful in his language, with an undertaker’s demeanour almost calculated to bore interviewers into submission.

Arguably the fruitiest moment came from Penny Mordaunt, who was offering post-match analysis in the BBC studio. She accused McFadden of lying, and Starmer of bringing “a touch of Imelda Marcos to the office of prime minister”. “Are you accusing Keir Starmer of being like Imelda Marcos?” asked Kuenssberg. “I am, Laura,” snapped Penny in an icy tone.

While I suspect we won’t be seeing Sir Keir in exile in Hawaii any time soon, I bet he’s pretty pleased it won’t be Penny he has to face over the Dispatch Box for the foreseeable future.