See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy GREG HEFFER, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT Published: 10:34 BST, 25 August 2026 | Updated: 16:01 BST, 25 August 2026
Kemi Badenoch was told by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to 'be your own woman and stand your ground' as they met in Rome, it has emerged.The Tory leader and Ms Meloni enjoyed an hour-long coffee in the Italian capital on Monday morning as they discussed the various challenges facing Britain and Italy.Ms Meloni is said to have advised Mrs Badenoch that 'you've got to be yourself' as they met in Antica Caffetteria, near to the Pantheon.It comes as both Ms Meloni and Mrs Badenoch face a challenge from the Right. Roberto Vannacci, a former general and the leader of the hard-Right National Future party, has recently advanced in the polls in Italy.Meanwhile, Mrs Badenoch has consistently ruled out striking a deal with Mr Farage and Reform ahead of the next UK general election.The Tory leader at the weekend described a Conservative/Reform coalition as 'monstrous' and lashed out at defectors who left her party for Mr Farage's outfit.According to The Times, Ms Meloni and Mrs Badenoch used their meeting in Rome to discuss the need to stop wealthy individuals from leaving Italy and the UK because they are the ones who 'create jobs and grow the economy'. Kemi Badenoch was told by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to 'be your own woman and stand your ground' as they met in Rome, it has emerged The Tory leader met with Ms Meloni for an hour-long coffee in Rome on Monday morning as they discussed the various challenges facing Britain and Italy Ms Meloni is said to have advised Mrs Badenoch that 'you've got to be yourself' as they met in Antica Caffetteria, near to the PantheonAccording to The Times, Ms Meloni and Mrs Badenoch used their meeting in Rome to discuss the need to stop wealthy individuals from leaving Italy and the UK because they are the ones who 'create jobs and grow the economy'.They are also reported to have spoken about Britain and Italy's support for Ukraine, migration and the European Convention on Human Rights.Ms Meloni said that England is used to having women in charge, from Queen Victoria to Margaret Thatcher, something that is less common in Italy, the newspaper said.Mrs Badenoch posted on X on Tuesday morning: 'Once upon a time, it was Italy's economy in the doldrums. Today Italy's borrowing costs are lower than Britain's. 'Markets and investors have more confidence in Georgia (sic) Meloni's Italy than in Labour's Britain.'People wrote Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni off, saying she wouldn't last six months. In 10 days she will be leading the longest-serving government in the history of the Italian Republic.'She is a straight-talking, no-nonsense woman who knows what she believes and stands her ground.'She has restored confidence in Italy, brought job creators back and shown what serious centre-right government can achieve.'I wanted to understand how she did it, because after Labour, Britain is going to need exactly that kind of resolve and Conservatives are going to deliver it.'Responding to the report of Mrs Badenoch's meeting with Ms Meloni, Mr Farage told Talk on Tuesday: 'I had a very long conversation with Giorgia Meloni very recently... I didn't tell the media about it.'I view conversations with people at that level as being confidential.'In this particular case, I don't see a single quote from Giorgia Meloni herself. I see what Kemi Badenoch tells us Giorgia Meloni said.'Well, maybe that shows a difference between myself and Kemi Badenoch.'I keep conversations with senior figures in the world private. She chooses to play the game a very different way.'
