Kemi Badenoch fears civil service will drag heels over ECHR as election rumours mount_D

Kemi Badenoch wants formal pre-election talks with the civil service because she wants to avoid a repeat of Brexit heel-dragging if Britain leaves the ECHR.

The Tory leader has written to the Cabinet Secretary demanding access talks, as rumours swirl over Prime Minister Andy Burnham calling an early vote.

And senior Conservatives are concerned “civil servants simply aren’t prepared to do what is necessary to leave the ECHR”, adding “we have to avoid another Brexit situation where the country voted to leave and no work had been done in advance to unpick decades of European laws.”

Tory strategists believe Mr Burnham has “only made weak denials” of a national ballot.

Many in Whitehall think the Labour leader could be tempted to call a General Election after enjoying a bounce in the polls.

Nigel Farage’s Reform UK had led 300 consecutive opinion polls but was knocked off the top spot by Labour after Mr Burnham entered 10 Downing Street.

But a survey of more than 10,000 people found that Reform would be the largest party with 227 MPs.

Labour, which has enjoyed a poll bounce after Andy Burnham replaced Sir Keir Starmer, is second with 197 seats, according to the Survation poll. The Lib Dems would win 72, while Kemi Badenoch’s Conservatives would be just behind with 71. The SNP would win 46 seats and Zack Polanski’s Green Party would have four MPs.

But the pollster said that Reform’s margins are thin, with just 100 of its seats considered safe.

And tactical voting could dramatically change the picture.

Mrs Badenoch wants to prepare civil servants for her radical plans.

They include plans to leave the European Convention on Human Rights, slash benefits, scrap stamp duty and get rid of business rates for most firms on the high street.

A senior Conservative said: “This is a serious request. Burnham has only made weak denials of an early election, and we are concerned civil servants simply aren’t prepared to do what is necessary to leave the ECHR and take back control of our borders. We have to avoid another Brexit situation, where the country voted to leave and no work had been done in advance to unpick decades of European laws.”

Mrs Badenoch said in a letter to Cabinet Secretary Dame Antonia Romeo: “I ask that you seek the Prime Minister’s approval to begin discussions with the Conservative Party as soon as possible, so we can ensure that the Civil Service has the details of our plans for government.”

The Tory leader concludes: “These are far-reaching changes that are part of my plans for an economic revolution to get Britain working.

“It is imperative the Civil Service are given as much time to prepare for them as possible.”

Reform chairman Lee Anderson added: “We’re preparing for the general election sometime next year. The selection of candidates for parliamentary seats is taking place as we speak.

“The Burnham bounce? I don’t think it exists.”