Kemi Badenoch, a prominent candidate in the Conservative Party leadership race, has launched a bold campaign accusing her party of “acting like Labour” and promising to chart a new direction for the Tories. Speaking in central London, Badenoch, who serves as the shadow communities secretary, sharply criticised the government’s past approach, stating that the Conservatives “talked right but governed left.” This assertion has quickly become a central theme of her campaign, which she has named Renewal 2030, reflecting her belief that the party must rethink its future to regain the trust of voters.
Badenoch, one of six candidates vying for the Tory leadership, did not hold back in her speech, urging the party to stop merely pointing fingers at Labour and instead define what it truly stands for. She argued that the Conservatives’ recent electoral failures stemmed from a lack of clear principles and a drift towards managerialist politics that failed to resonate with the public. According to Badenoch, the government’s tendency to “try to do everything” has resulted in achieving very little. Her solution? A smaller, more efficient state that focuses on fewer tasks but executes them with excellence.
A significant part of Badenoch’s platform revolves around challenging the role of the state, as she calls for less regulation and more innovation. She cited the example of net zero targets, criticising the government’s approach of enshrining ambitious climate goals in law without a concrete plan to achieve them. Badenoch argued that this reliance on regulation over innovation is emblematic of a broader failure within her party to think creatively about solving problems.
Immigration also featured prominently in her speech, with Badenoch expressing concern that people who question the scale of migration are often made to feel guilty. While some of her leadership rivals, such as Robert Jenrick and Tom Tugendhat, have proposed caps on legal migration, Badenoch warned that such measures alone would not suffice. Drawing on past experiences, she highlighted that similar promises made during David Cameron’s tenure did not produce the desired outcomes, suggesting that the party must dig deeper to understand why previous immigration policies fell short.
Badenoch also addressed calls from within her party to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), a stance advocated by some Conservatives who argue that it hampers the UK’s ability to deport asylum seekers. However, Badenoch countered that simply exiting the treaty would not solve the broader issues within the immigration system, pointing out that other countries bound by the ECHR manage to deport the majority of people they wish to remove.
In recent years, Badenoch has gained a reputation for being outspoken on controversial issues, particularly during her tenure as minister for women and equalities, where she tackled sensitive topics like race and gender. Despite accusations that she was more focused on culture wars than substantive policy debates, Badenoch defended her record, stating that addressing complex social issues was an integral part of her role.
As the leadership contest heats up, other candidates, including shadow home secretary James Cleverly and shadow security minister Tom Tugendhat, are also setting out their stalls, each presenting their vision for the future of the Conservative Party. With the race set to culminate on 2 November, the stakes are high, and the outcome remains uncertain. However, one thing is clear: Kemi Badenoch is determined to steer the Conservatives back to their core values and away from what she sees as a drift towards Labour-like governance.
You can find more information on Kemi Badenoch’s political positions and speeches on her official Parliamentary profile.
