‘People are scared of her, to be honest’: Kemi Badenoch remakes Tories in her image
At Conservative conference, some worry about becoming a one-woman party, while others say party should thank their lucky stars they have her
TL;DR
- Kemi Badenoch is positioning herself as the dominant figure in the Conservative party, akin to a new leader, coach, and owner.
- She is actively shifting the party's ideological direction away from centrist ideas towards a right-leaning agenda, including opposition to net zero and human rights protections.
- Badenoch's policy decisions are reportedly driven by her personal beliefs about what needs to be fixed, with little room for external persuasion.
- MPs note that Badenoch is highly regarded by voters, often mentioned unprompted with admiration, a level of recognition not extended to the party more broadly.
- The party's diminished size in Parliament is seen as a factor in its current unity, with factions unable to form significant blocks.
- Concerns exist about Badenoch's focus on "culture wars" over the economy and her seemingly personal policy choices, like tax breaks for the wealthy.
- Despite Badenoch's high public profile, other shadow cabinet members have significantly lower recognition among voters.
- Some party members question if the Conservatives are becoming a "one-woman party," while others see her strong leadership as crucial for the opposition's revival.