Kemi Badenoch Throws Hat in Tory Leadership Ring
Kemi Badenoch, shadow housing and communities secretary, has officially joined the Conservative leadership race. The bookmakers’ favourite to replace Rishi Sunak, Badenoch has set a bold goal: get the Tories back in government by 2030. She promises a fresh start, aiming to renew the Conservative brand and serve the British people better.
Back to Basics: Truth and Tough Immigration
In an op-ed for the Times, Badenoch stressed the need for the government to truly serve its citizens. She pledged to “speak the truth again” and called for controlling immigration while reaffirming faith in the nation-state.
“If I have the privilege to serve, we will speak the truth again. That is why today my campaign is launching with an explicit focus on renewing our party for 2030 – the first full year we can be back in government and the first year of a new decade.”
Leadership Line-Up and Party Tensions
Badenoch is the sixth Tory to enter the leadership race, joining heavyweights like Dame Priti Patel, Mel Stride, Tom Tugendhat, James Cleverly, and Robert Jenrick. She advocates for a government that does fewer things—but does them well—and calls for a renewal of capitalism to boost the economy.
But not all is calm on the Tory battlefield. Grassroots members are fuming over the exclusion of favourite Suella Braverman from the ballot. Conservative Democratic Organisation (CDO) members warn MPs risk falling out of tune with core supporters. A recent poll of 3,412 CDO members placed Braverman top, with Badenoch a close second.
Claire Bullivant, founder of the Conservative Post, warned excluding Braverman could deepen the divide between party activists and MPs, risking defections to Reform UK.
Suella Braverman Drops Out – But Why?
In a surprise twist Sunday evening, Home Secretary Suella Braverman announced she won’t run despite having enough backing. Writing in the Telegraph, she blamed party infighting and lack of consensus on key issues like migration, taxes, and transgender ideology for her decision.
Polling from Savanta shows Priti Patel trailing as the least popular contender, with a net rating of minus 28 points among the public.
Race Heats Up as Tory Leadership Battle Moves Forward
With Braverman out, the race to succeed Sunak heats up. Candidates like Badenoch are vowing to rebuild the Tory brand and win back Britain’s trust ahead of the next decade. The nation watches as each contender outlines plans to tackle immigration, the economy, and the culture wars.
