Kemi Badenoch Calls for Tory Renewal Over Labour Criticism in Leadership Bid Launch

In her upcoming speech to kick off her leadership campaign, Kemi Badenoch will criticize Labour, yet she will emphasize that her party should 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 declare that the Tories cannot regain the trust of the British public just by highlighting the flaws of the Labour Party.

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

However, even though she will enumerate several complaints, such as "deceiving the British public about the condition of the UK's finances," she will admit that these criticisms will not aid her party in securing victory in the upcoming election.

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

"We need to move beyond the repetitive policy debates of the previous legislature. We were defeated and currently do not hold power.

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

"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 severe general election loss, paving the way for the Labour Party to assume control, marking its first return to power in over a decade.

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There is a divide among Conservatives regarding the future path of the party, with some members advocating for a move back to more moderate positions, while others support veering further right to counter the rise of Reform UK.

Ms. Badenoch, favored by conservatives, competes against five contenders 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 emphasize that his party needs to "return to traditional Conservative principles" and advocate for reducing the size of government.

He will assert that the Conservatives "need to unify" to offer solutions for "a tumultuous global environment, worldwide migration, and a growing distrust in capitalism."

"He will emphasize the importance of the state being truthful and pragmatic about its functions. It should concentrate on excelling in a limited number of roles rather than attempting to manage all poorly," he will further state.

"We acknowledge the fundamental responsibility of the government to safeguard its citizens and territorial integrity. However, it’s crucial for Conservatives to openly recognize the compromises involved in executing these duties effectively."

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Discover more: Tugendhat proposes using the navy to combat illegal migration as it was used against slavery. Jenrick would welcome Johnson in his shadow cabinet.

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

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The contenders are rallying 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.

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

Subsequently, the broader party membership will cast their votes, with the announcement of the winner scheduled for November 2.

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

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