Kemi Badenoch attends secret dinner with wealthy Labour backer as party tries to woo back big bosses

KEMI Badenoch attended a secret dinner with a megabucks Labour supporter - as the party scrambles to woo back big bosses.

The Tory leader went to Middlesbrough FC owner Steve Gibson’s mansion in North Yorkshire on Thursday night along with around 15 other guests.

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Mr Gibson - who has an estimated net worth of £640million - backed Labour last year and was once a councillor for the party.

But it is claimed he is unhappy with the PM’s tax rises and support for a new football regulator.

Ms Badenoch is said to have wooed potential donors with an impassioned pitch on backing business and getting tough on criminals.

One attendee told The Sun: “People know this is a tough time for the Conservatives and there were some proper questions, but Kemi was on punchy form.

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“She knocked it out of the park on backing business and putting thugs behind bars for longer, which the room loved.

“I think she silenced the doubters and she undoubtedly won people over - the type of people who can give the party significant support.”

Mr Gibson is supported Labour in the Teesside Mayoralty last year, although has described himself as a floating voter.

He told TeessideLive: "I can't see how the Tories are going to come back in a generation, and they don't deserve to."

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Sources said the dinner was attended by local bosses and arranged by Tory Treasury Lord Stuart Marks who is scrambling to raise cash.

The party is in desperate need of donors after running dry their coffers during an election where big money flocked to Labour and subsequently Reform.

Conservative head office yesterday told staff of a round of job cuts, with the party already running a skeleton crew because of a lack of funds.

The Conservative Party declined to comment.