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

Tory leadership: Badenoch emphasizes renewal over criticizing Labour to regain trust

In her upcoming speech to kick off her leadership campaign, Kemi Badenoch will criticize Labour, but she will stress that her party must concentrate on rejuvenation instead of merely attacking the opposition to secure victory in the forthcoming election.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Monday, September 2, 2024, at 12

Kemi Badenoch is set to assert that the Tories cannot regain the confidence of the British public just by highlighting Labour's faults.

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

Although she will enumerate several complaints, such as deceiving the British public about the UK's financial situation, she will acknowledge that these issues alone will not secure her party's victory in the upcoming election.

"Ms. Badenoch will state, 'If the Conservatives aim to regain the trust of the British public, we cannot merely linger on criticizing Labour, despite how enjoyable that may be.'"

"We need to move beyond the policy debates of the previous legislature. We were defeated. We don't hold authority."

"Labour will be unsuccessful; and when that moment arrives, and the British public seeks a new direction, we must represent that transformation.

"We need to concentrate on rejuvenation. This includes the rejuvenation of our party, our political approach, and our mindset."

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In July, the Conservative Party faced its most significant general election loss in history, paving the way for a Labour government to take office for the first time in over a decade.

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The Conservative Party is divided over its future path, with some members advocating for a move back towards moderation, while others support veering further right to counter the challenge posed by Reform UK.

Ms. Badenoch, widely regarded as the preferred choice among conservatives, is contending with five other candidates in the contest to succeed Rishi Sunak: Robert Jenrick, James Cleverly, Dame Priti Patel, Tom Tugendhat, and Mel Stride.

Mr. Cleverly is set to deliver a speech on Monday as parliament reconvenes after the summer break, during which he will emphasize that his party needs to "think and act like Conservatives again" and make a case for reducing the size of government.

He will declare that the Conservatives need to "unify and prepare" to address issues such as "a turbulent global landscape, international migration, and a growing distrust in capitalism."

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

"We recognize that it is a fundamental responsibility of the government to safeguard its citizens and its territorial boundaries. However, it is essential for Conservatives to acknowledge the compromises involved in executing these duties effectively."

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Explore further: Tugendhat proposes combating unlawful immigration using naval forces, similar to historical anti-slavery efforts. Jenrick expresses enthusiasm about the possibility of including Johnson in his shadow cabinet team.

Mr. Cleverly will also advocate for a society that prioritizes family support over turning to government assistance as the initial solution when issues occur.

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The contenders are canvassing for backing from their parliamentary colleagues before the initial vote on Wednesday, which will narrow down the number of participants to four.

In the days leading up to the vote, significant addresses were delivered by Mr. Tugendhat, Ms. Patel, and Mr. Jenrick.

Stay informed about the most recent developments in the UK and globally by tuning into Sky News.

A debate is scheduled to take place at the party conference at the end of the month, where MPs will cast another vote to reduce the number of candidates to two.

The broader base of party members 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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