Kemi Badenoch Calls for Conservative Renewal Over Labour Critiques in Leadership Bid Launch

Tory leadership: Pointing out Labour's flaws won't restore trust, Badenoch claims

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

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Monday, September 2, 2024 12:27

Kemi Badenoch is set to declare that the Conservative Party cannot regain the confidence of the British public merely by highlighting the shortcomings of the Labour Party.

During the inauguration of her campaign for Conservative leader on Monday, the ex-Business Secretary will criticize the current administration for not providing "something better."

However, even though she will enumerate various critiques, such as "deceiving the British public about the condition of the UK's economy," she will admit that these points alone will not secure her party a victory in the upcoming election.

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

"We need to move beyond the policy debates of the previous legislature. We were defeated. We do not hold authority."

Labour will falter; and when it does, as the British public seeks a new direction, we must embody 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 the Conservative leadership contest, Kemi Badenoch criticizes her party for rhetorically leaning right but administratively veering left, while James Cleverly promises to revive the Rwanda policy.

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In July, the Conservative Party faced its most severe general election loss to date, which led to the Labour Party taking control after 14 years in the opposition.

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There is a division among conservatives regarding the future path of their party, with some members advocating for a move back towards moderation, while others support moving further right to counter the emerging challenge from Reform UK.

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

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

He is set to assert that the Conservatives "need to unify and organize" to address challenges such as "a tumultuous global environment, worldwide migration, and a growing distrust in capitalist systems."

"This entails a candid and practical understanding of the government's function—recognizing its capabilities and limitations. The government should concentrate on excelling in a limited number of tasks rather than poorly managing a multitude," he will further state.

"It is acknowledged that the primary responsibility of the state is to safeguard its citizens and its territorial boundaries. However, it is crucial for Conservatives to openly recognize the compromises involved in executing these duties effectively."

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Explore further: Tugendhat proposes using the navy to combat illegal immigration as was done with slavery. Jenrick expresses approval of Johnson's potential role in his shadow cabinet.

Mr. Cleverly will advocate for prioritizing family support over turning to the government at the first sign of trouble.

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

In the days leading up to the vote, significant speeches have been delivered by Mr. Tugendhat, Ms. Patel, and Mr. Jenrick.

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

A debate is scheduled to take place at the party convention later this month, where Members of Parliament will cast another round of votes to reduce the number of contenders to two.

The broader base of party members will cast their votes, with the victor being declared on November 2nd.

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

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