Kemi Badenoch Calls for Conservative Renewal Over Criticism of Labour in Leadership Bid Speech

Kemi Badenoch, in her speech initiating her leadership campaign, will criticize the Labour Party but emphasize that her party must concentrate on rejuvenation instead of merely attacking the opposition to secure victory in the upcoming election.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Monday, September 2, 2024 12:27

Kemi Badenoch will assert that the Conservative Party cannot regain the confidence of the British public merely by highlighting Labour's shortcomings.

During her Conservative leadership campaign kickoff on Monday, the ex-Business Secretary is set to criticize the current administration for not providing a superior alternative.

Yet, even as she enumerates various critiques, such as "deceiving the British public about the condition of the UK's finances," she will assert that these actions will not aid her party in securing victory in the upcoming election.

"Ms. Badenoch will state, 'If the Conservatives hope to regain the trust of the British public, we must do more than merely highlight Labour's shortcomings, enjoyable though that may be.'"

"It's time to move past the policy debates of the previous legislature. We were defeated and are no longer in control."

Labour will not succeed; and when that moment arrives, and the British public seeks a new direction, we must be that alternative.

"We need to concentrate on rejuvenation. The rejuvenation of our party, our political approaches, and our mindset."

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In July, the Conservative Party faced its most severe general election loss in history, which led to the Labour Party gaining control of the government after 14 years.

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There is a division among conservatives regarding the future path of their party. Some members advocate for a move back towards more moderate, central positions, while others believe veering further to the right is necessary to counter the rise of Reform UK.

Ms. Badenoch, a leading conservative contender, faces competition from five other candidates in the bid to succeed Rishi Sunak: Robert Jenrick, James Cleverly, Dame Priti Patel, Tom Tughendhat, and Mel Stride.

On Monday, as parliament reconvenes after the summer break, Mr. Cleverly is set to deliver a speech in which he will urge his party to "embrace traditional Conservative values" and advocate for reducing the size of government.

He will state that the Conservatives "need to unite and organize" to offer solutions for "a turbulent global environment, worldwide migration, and a growing distrust in capitalism."

"He will emphasize the importance of the government having a clear and truthful understanding of its capabilities and limitations. It should concentrate on excelling in a limited number of areas rather than attempting to manage everything inadequately," he will state.

"It is acknowledged that the principal responsibility of the government is to safeguard its citizens and its territorial boundaries. However, Conservatives need to be candid regarding the compromises involved in executing these duties effectively."

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Discover more: Tugendhat proposes using the navy to combat unlawful migration, similar to historical anti-slavery efforts. Jenrick expresses enthusiasm for Johnson's potential inclusion in his shadow cabinet team.

Mr. Cleverly will advocate for prioritizing family support over turning to government assistance as the initial solution when issues arise.

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The hopefuls are garnering backing from their parliamentary colleagues before the initial vote on Wednesday, which will narrow down the competitors to four.

The days leading up to the vote have been marked by significant addresses from Mr. Tugendhat, Ms. Patel, and Mr. Jenrick.

Stay informed with the most recent developments from the UK and across the globe by tuning into Sky News.

At the party conference scheduled for the end of the month, a husting will take place where MPs will cast their votes once more to reduce the number of candidates to two.

Subsequently, the broader party base will cast their votes, and the victor will be declared on November 2.

Tune into The Politics Hub on Sky News tonight at 7pm.

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