Kemi Badenoch: Criticising Labour won’t regain Tory trust
Badenoch calls for Tory renewal to counter Labour's shortcomings
Kemi Badenoch argues that the Conservative Party cannot regain the trust of the British public merely by criticising Labour. In her speech launching her Conservative leadership campaign, the former Business Secretary will claim that the new government fails to provide “something better”. Despite listing criticisms, such as misleading the public about the UK’s financial state, she will emphasise that this approach will not help her party win the next election.
Badenoch will stress that the Conservatives must focus on renewing their party, politics, and ideas to become trustworthy again. She will argue that merely highlighting Labour’s faults is insufficient. According to her, the party must move past old policy debates and prepare to be the change when Labour’s shortcomings become evident.
The Tories experienced their worst general election defeat in July, leading to a Labour government for the first time in 14 years. The Conservative Party is now divided on its future direction, with some advocating for a return to centrism and others pushing for a rightward shift to counter Reform UK. Badenoch, a right-wing favourite, faces five other candidates in the race to replace Rishi Sunak: Robert Jenrick, James Cleverly, Dame Priti Patel, Tom Tugendhat, and Mel Stride.
Alert – Kemi Badenoch accuses Labour government of being 'clueless, irresponsible and dishonest' as she launches bid for Tory leadership on the same day as James Cleverly https://t.co/DV9vBApHjc pic.twitter.com/DkXtkdNlQe
— Alert Content (@thealertcontent) September 2, 2024
James Cleverly will also deliver a speech on Monday as parliament resumes. He will call for the party to “think and act like Conservatives again” and advocate for a smaller state. Cleverly will argue that the state should focus on performing fewer tasks well rather than many poorly. He will emphasise the state’s duty to protect its people and borders while being honest about the necessary trade-offs.
Cleverly will also promote a “family-first society” instead of relying on the state as the primary solution to problems. The candidates are seeking support from fellow MPs before the first round of voting on Wednesday, which will reduce the field to four contestants. Major speeches by Tugendhat, Patel, and Jenrick have already been made in recent days.
The party conference at the end of the month will feature a husting where MPs will vote again to narrow the candidates to two. The wider party membership will then vote, with the winner announced on 2 November.
What Other Media Are Saying
- The Guardian reports that Kemi Badenoch is poised to urge Conservatives to move beyond criticizing Labour and address their own policies, emphasizing the need to regain public trust.(read more)
- Shropshire Star reports that Kemi Badenoch, a Tory leadership hopeful, stresses the need for Conservative renewal to successfully replace Labour, criticizing Labour’s lack of ideas and political tactics.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What does Kemi Badenoch think the Tories need to do to regain trust?
Badenoch believes the Tories need to focus on renewal and offer better alternatives, not just criticize Labour.
Why won’t criticizing Labour help the Tories win the next election?
Badenoch argues that simply pointing out Labour’s flaws won’t make the Tories worthy of the British people’s trust.
What direction do some Conservatives think the party should go?
Some Conservatives call for a return to the centre ground, while others favor a shift to the right.
What is James Cleverly’s stance on the role of the state?
Cleverly believes the state should focus on doing fewer things very well and be honest about its limitations.
When will the winner of the Conservative leadership race be announced?
The winner will be announced on 2 November.
