Kemi Badenoch has launched her bid to lead the Conservative Party, promising renewal and stirring the race with her divisive stance on several issues. Here’s the full story.
Badenoch Enters the Race
Kemi Badenoch, the former Equalities Minister who has strongly opposed transgender rights, has officially announced her candidacy to become the next leader of the Conservative Party. This will mark her second attempt to lead the party after her fourth-place finish in the 2022 leadership contest.
“Renew” the Party
Badenoch, who announced her campaign in an article in The Times, promised to “renew” the Conservative Party, which she said had failed in its promise to voters, and added that the party must focus on doing “some things well, not everything badly.”
Sovereignty and Immigration
Badenoch, a famed culture warrior, attempted to centre her campaign on sovereignty and immigration, both topics that are red meat for the Conservative base. She advocated for the UK to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
“Serve Its Own Citizens”
She wrote, “We can’t control immigration until we reconfirm our belief in the nation state and the sovereign duty it has, above all else, to serve its own citizens.”
Controversial Position
This position, though popular with many on the right of the party and with Conservative voters, is highly contentious. Many more centrist Tories are increasingly worried that such a move could harm the UK’s international reputation and respect for the international rules-based order.
Capitalism’s “Dirty Word”
Unsurprisingly, Badenoch also attempted to position herself as a staunch supporter of capitalism, a term which even she was forced to admit had become controversial, calling it a “dirty word.” She added, “If I have the privilege to serve, we will speak the truth again.”
Divisive Language
In her Times article, Badenoch gave a taste of the language that would likely follow if she is elected leader, stating, “We sought to build an increasingly liberal society. But liberalism has been hacked. Our empathy with those fleeing persecution has been exploited to create an asylum system that is effectively open borders to anyone willing to lie about their circumstances.”
Identity Politics Criticism
She added, “Legislative improvements ensuring that everyone can be treated equally, irrespective of their race, sex or religion have morphed into a nasty identity politics that seeks to divide based on these characteristics.”
Outspoken and Controversial
Badenoch’s rise within the Conservative Party has been marked by her outspoken, often controversial, views and aggressive debating style. Elected as an MP in 2017, she quickly gained prominence.
Criticised by LGBTQ+ Groups
During her tenure as Women and Equalities Minister in 2021, her stance on trans rights and other social issues made her a favourite among the party’s right-wing but drew significant criticism from LGBTQ+ groups, some of which even saw three government LGBTQ+ advisors resign in protest of her policies.
Surprise Leadership Finish
Despite this, Badenoch surprised many by finishing fourth in the 2022 leadership contest, demonstrating her appeal and support within the party.
Rocky Start
Despite her popularity, Badenoch’s leadership bid had already gotten off to a rocky start as, even before her candidacy was officially announced, she accused but did not name others in the Conservative leadership race of using “dirty tricks” to derail her candidacy.
Allegations of “Dirty Tricks”
In a social media post, Badenoch alleged that a team supporting another candidate had circulated a “dirty dossier” about her. Writing on X, formerly Twitter, she argued that the dossier and the attacks on her showed “how so much of the discourse across the political spectrum is obsessed with the petty and the puerile.” She added, “We can do better than this.”
Few Friends, Many Enemies
Despite gaining the required ten signatures to support her candidacy, Badenoch’s outspoken views and willingness to attack others in the Conservative Party have made her few friends and many enemies.
“Very Public” Mental Breakdown
Following a poorly received speech by disgraced former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, in which she compared the flying of the LGBTQ+ flag to the “mutilation of children”, Badenoch accused her of having a “very public” mental breakdown.
Dissatisfaction With Rivals
She has also been vocal about her dissatisfaction with former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and other potential leadership rivals, sometimes leading to internal friction in a party already riven with factionalism and infighting.
Joins Leadership Race
Badenoch joins Dame Priti Patel, Mel Stride, Robert Jenrick, Tom Tugendhat, and James Cleverly in the Conservative Party leadership race. The selection process will narrow the field to two final contenders, with party members ultimately choosing the winner through an online vote in November.
Facing Crossroads
Kemi Badenoch acknowledged the difficulty of the task ahead when announcing her bid for leadership, writing, “Today, as we face our own crossroads, we can learn from defeat. The task in front of us is bigger than any one person, policy or campaign, but with the right leader it could be the most exciting opportunity we’ve had for decades.”
Popularity vs Public Support
However, it remains to be seen if Badenoch’s popularity with Conservative supporters will translate into public support or if her outspoken views and combative debating style will prove too coarse for an electorate that grows increasingly tired of political grandstanding.
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Grant Gallacher is a seasoned writer with expertise in politics and impactful daily news. His work, deeply rooted in addressing issues that resonate with a wide audience, showcases an unwavering commitment to bringing forth the stories that matter. He is also known for satirical writing and stand up comedy.