In her first interview as Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch pledged a distinctly different approach to the economy than that of Chancellor Rachel Reeves, vowing that her policies would be “completely the opposite” to Labour’s stance. Speaking to the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, Badenoch criticized the recent VAT increase on private schools and expressed her intention to reverse it, describing it as “a tax on aspiration” that “won’t raise any money.”
Reflecting on her party’s election loss, Badenoch admitted the Conservatives had “got a lot of things wrong,” pointing to policies on immigration and taxation. However, she declined to offer a “post-mortem” of her predecessors, including former leaders Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss. On Sunak, she acknowledged that he had lost the trust of voters, particularly due to unmet promises on immigration and tax cuts. As for Partygate, Badenoch said Boris Johnson “walked into a trap” and claimed the controversy had been “overblown.”
With her new shadow cabinet set to be announced shortly, Badenoch aims to foster a sense of unity, promising a meritocratic team to demonstrate a united front. Addressing potential policy changes, she was asked if she would repeal Reeves’ recent increase in employers’ national insurance contributions. While she stated she had no power to enact legislative changes, Badenoch argued that “raising taxes in this way… will leave us all poorer,” emphasizing that business, not government, drives economic growth—a clear contrast to Reeves’ approach.
Notably, Badenoch took issue with Reeves’ repeated references to her own milestone as the UK’s first female chancellor. Badenoch remarked, “I think the best future is one where the color of your skin or your gender is as unremarkable as the color of your eyes or hair,” and argued that “other women in this country have achieved much more.”
As she seeks to repair her party’s image, Badenoch plans to address the loss of Conservative support to Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage. She dismissed Reform as a “spoiler” party, attributing its rise to her party’s inconsistency on core Conservative values. By refocusing on these principles, she believes she can rebuild trust and reclaim disillusioned voters.
Ultimately, Badenoch’s goal is to draw a line under her party’s recent turbulence and renew the Conservative brand with a clear, value-driven approach. “The public didn’t trust us,” she admitted, “not only for broken promises but also for a lack of unity.” With her sights set on unity and a clear economic vision, Badenoch appears determined to present a fresh Conservative alternative to Labour’s policies.
