Kemi Badenoch: New Tory Leader “Labour’s worst nightmare”

[Social Media]

 

Kemi Badenoch, the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party, steps into the role with a daunting task ahead. Known as "the worst job in politics," being Leader of the Opposition brings intense scrutiny and an even greater weight of expectations. With only seven months until the May local elections, Badenoch must act quickly to revive a demoralized Tory base, rebuild voter confidence, and halt the party’s downward trend in recent years.

🗣 It is “time to get down to business” and “renew” the Conservatives and Britain, Kemi Badenoch said in her acceptance speech pic.twitter.com/K5UQCjJRnb

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) November 2, 2024

 

Following her narrow but hard-fought victory over Robert Jenrick, Badenoch’s journey as leader truly begins. Her election represents a historic milestone for the Conservatives, who can now claim to have chosen the first Black leader of a major political party in the UK—marking their fourth female leader as well. This achievement, notable in a week where Labour praised Rachel Reeves for supposedly breaking the “glass ceiling,” positions the Conservative Party once again as a trailblazer in diversity and equality. But as the initial celebration fades, Badenoch faces an urgent need to stabilize her party before the upcoming elections.

 

The new Tory leader expressed optimism that the intense leadership race left the candidates “more united,” a sentiment she’ll need to rally her party for the battles ahead. A unified front could result in meaningful gains in May, potentially marking the first signs of a Conservative comeback. However, any division within the party might see supporters drifting to alternative options, with disillusioned centrists considering the Liberal Democrats and frustrated right-wing members possibly joining Nigel Farage's Reform UK.

 

Badenoch’s appeal lies in her charisma and her perceived strength to counter both Nigel Farage and Sir Keir Starmer. Her supporters see her as someone with the fortitude to go toe-to-toe with Farage while also holding her own against Starmer in Parliament. Badenoch’s leadership offers a fresh image for the party, symbolized by her background—born in London and raised in Nigeria—which resonates with the Tory base as a sign of renewal and transformation. For many, her ascension embodies the change the party needs to reestablish its relevance with the wider electorate.

 

However, defining what today’s Conservative Party stands for remains Badenoch’s principal task. She has called for a “reset” in the party’s politics and thinking, a goal that echoes the sentiments of Tory members who saw her as a leader open to listening and shaping policies reflective of the party’s core values. In contrast to Jenrick, whose supporters criticized Badenoch’s campaign as lacking concrete policy details, her willingness to engage and take feedback appears to have resonated strongly with members eager for a fresh start.

 

Although Badenoch won by a margin of around 56% to 44%, she received a strong mandate with nearly 73% voter turnout among party members. However, only one-third of Conservative MPs backed her, which could lead to a challenging divide between parliamentary members and the grassroots. This division highlights the importance of her promises to grant members a more influential role in shaping party policies and selecting candidates, moves that could solidify her support among the volunteers crucial for door-to-door campaigning during elections.

 

Concerns persist within the party about potential shifts in membership numbers, with the Reform Party’s count on the rise and the Conservatives’ dipping just above 131,000. While some of her colleagues view Badenoch’s assertive personality as a potential flaw, Tory members see her tenacity as a strength. They believe she will stand firmly by her convictions, something they doubted about Jenrick, whose policies were seen as appealing but whose image seemed out of touch. Michael Gove’s label of Jenrick as another “Tory boy” reflected a worry among members that he would lack the fortitude to withstand challenges from Farage.

 

Badenoch has already branded herself as “Labour’s worst nightmare,” with her unique background countering claims that the Conservatives harbor prejudice or racism. Despite his criticisms of Badenoch, Farage is likely to recognize that she poses a formidable challenge to his ambitions; of the two candidates, she is the one with the charisma and appeal to keep his party in check.

 

Should Badenoch guide the Conservatives to success in the May elections, it could affirm her leadership as a step toward the party’s resurgence. If these early tests fall short, members might still grant her time to solidify her position by 2026. However, if she cannot deliver progress by then, her future as leader might be at risk before a general election.

 

Both Badenoch and Jenrick described this leadership race as an existential moment for the Conservatives, highlighting the critical juncture at which the party stands. With history on her side, Badenoch embarks on a path that could shape not only her party’s future but also the course of British politics in the years to come.

 

Based on a report by the Daily Telegraph 2024-11-04

 

 

 

 

 

[BruceWayne]

As if.  Prolly white *conservative* voters worst nightmare though!

 

'Conservatives' should be prosecuted for false advertising under the Trade Descriptions Act.

Wonder how long it'll take for Faarage to out himself as another establishment fraud?

[Nick Carter icp]

20 minutes ago, Social Media said:

Her election represents a historic milestone for the Conservatives, who can now claim to have chosen the first Black leader of a major political party in the UK

 

   How long will it before before a person colour and gender isn't mentioned anymore ? 

[fasteddie]

Alternatively she could preside over further disintegration of the party given it's already at its lowest membership levels in decades,

[attento]

1 hour ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   How long will it before before a person colour and gender isn't mentioned anymore ? 

Perhaps of greater significance is that, following a good technical education, she has had a life in business, unlike so many polititions who have no or little 'real life' experience outside politics. But, time will tell.

[Chomper Higgot]

‘Labour’s worst nightmare’

 

Utter nonsense, she’s a gift to Labour and the Lib Dems.

 

She’s incapable of accepting criticism unable to come to any middle ground accommodation of other people’s views.

 

She’s going to do a splendid job finishing off the Tories.

 

 

 

 

[AndreasHG]

[jippytum]

Following labour's poor performance since the electlon the Tories are now ahead in opinion polls. 

The election 

of a new leader is too little too late for the tories the damage is done. 

[Chomper Higgot]

8 minutes ago, jippytum said:

Following labour's poor performance since the electlon the Tories are now ahead in opinion polls. 

The election 

of a new leader is too little too late for the tories the damage is done. 

Don’t underestimate Badenoch, I’m quite sure she’ll come up with some imaginative means to do even more damage to the corpse of Tory Party.

 

She already rubbing salt in the wounds of those who lost loved ones during the COVID lockdowns while Johnson and his chums partied.

 

 

[Foxx]

27 minutes ago, jippytum said:

Following labour's poor performance since the electlon the Tories are now ahead in opinion polls. 

 

Are you sure about that? Politico has Labour on 29%, the Tories on 25%.  That's as of October 24th.

 

Scarily, Reform UK is on 19%.  If they combined with the Tories they'd have a stonking lead.

 

https://www.politico.eu/europe-poll-of-polls/united-kingdom/

[mfd101]

4 hours ago, BruceWayne said:

'Conservatives' should be prosecuted for false advertising under the Trade Descriptions Act.

Noone is 'conservative' (in the proper sense) in any modern society. How could you be as everything changes around you on a regular basis?

 

'Right-wing' or 'right-of-centre' makes more sense as a description of what she (presumably) stands for.

[JonnyF]

4 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   How long will it before before a person colour and gender isn't mentioned anymore ? 

 

Exactly.

 

Personally I think Kemi is a good choice and I am very happy to have her as leader of the opposition. Her gender/colour is irrelevant to me, although I do see the irony that it's the "progressive" Labour party that claim to be obsessed with indentity, DEI and equality yet it's the Conservatives who frequently have female and non-white leaders. 

 

However, we all know that the left are exactly what they accuse others of being. 

 

I hope Kemi tears Starmer a new one at PMQ's.

[herfiehandbag]

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

She’s incapable of accepting criticism unable to come to any middle ground accommodation of other people’s views.

Unlike Labour and (no doubt purely coincidentally, after all no one could accuse you of slavishly following a party line now could they Chomper?) you!

[herfiehandbag]

5 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   How long will it before before a person colour and gender isn't mentioned anymore ? 

Well the fact is that she is the first black person to lead any UK major party, so that is significant.

 

As for gender - well Labour are trumpeting Rachel Reaves as having smashed a glass ceiling in British political life, a mere 45 years after Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister (!) so no time soon.

 

Incidentally, it has just occured to me, when they talk about Rachel Reaves smashing glass ceilings do they mean smashing them on an upward trajectory or falling through them?

 

Personally I rather like Kemi Badenoch - and think she is probably the Tory Party's best hope.

[transam]

5 hours ago, BruceWayne said:

As if.  Prolly white *conservative* voters worst nightmare though!

 

'Conservatives' should be prosecuted for false advertising under the Trade Descriptions Act.

Wonder how long it'll take for Faarage to out himself as another establishment fraud?

What are you talking about, boy wonder.........?  

[transam]

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

‘Labour’s worst nightmare’

 

Utter nonsense, she’s a gift to Labour and the Lib Dems.

 

She’s incapable of accepting criticism unable to come to any middle ground accommodation of other people’s views.

 

She’s going to do a splendid job finishing off the Tories.

 

 

 

 

🤣.......Put Kemi face to face with your Angela and see what happens..........🤣

 

You obviously have never watched Kemi at the dispatch box burying your opposition Party.

 

Oh, I forgot, you don't watch videos, even from the House, they maybe doctored...............🤣

[Eloquent pilgrim]

 

Kemi Badenoch is an excellent choice for the new Tory leader; she upholds true conservative values, in stark contrast to Sunak who was dragging the party inexorably to the left.

 

She is vehemently anti-woke, anti illegal immigration, and she vociferously supports JK Rowling, Sharron Davies, and all the others that are trying to defend women’s rights against the tiny, screaming minority known as the Trans Lobby; a lobby that is trying to dismantle women’s rights, insisting that men in frocks should be able to take part in women’s sports, and that if you refuse to call Bert, Beatrice, you should be prosecuted.

 

She is the only hope the Tories have of preventing Reform from gaining all the supporters lost by Sunak.

 

 

[Captain Flack]

A couple implied racist post and all replies have been removed.

 

Reminder rule 15. You will not discriminate or post slurs, degrading or overly negative comments on the basis of race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, nationality, disability, medical history, marriage, civil partnership, pregnancy, maternity, paternity, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other irrelevant factor.

[MalcolmB]

1 minute ago, Eloquent pilgrim said:

and she vociferously supports JK Rowling, Sharron Davies, and all the others that are trying to defend women’s rights against

Great, with cost of living pressures, government deficits, spending out of control, the standard of healthcare plummeting we are going to have a toxic feminist calling the shots. 
That will work out well.

[transam]

10 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

Great, with cost of living pressures, government deficits, spending out of control, the standard of healthcare plummeting we are going to have a toxic feminist calling the shots. 
That will work out well.

"Toxic Feminist", can you explain that comment.......?   🥴

[Patong2021]

14 minutes ago, Eloquent pilgrim said:

 

Kemi Badenoch is an excellent choice for the new Tory leader; she upholds true conservative values, in stark contrast to Sunak who was dragging the party inexorably to the left.

 

She is vehemently anti-woke, anti illegal immigration, and she vociferously supports JK Rowling, Sharron Davies, and all the others that are trying to defend women’s rights against the tiny, screaming minority known as the Trans Lobby; a lobby that is trying to dismantle women’s rights, insisting that men in frocks should be able to take part in women’s sports, and that if you refuse to call Bert, Beatrice, you should be prosecuted.

 

She is the only hope the Tories have of preventing Reform from gaining all the supporters lost by Sunak.

 

 

 

Many valid and reasonable points.  However, I disagree that she will be an excellent long term choice. She is needed now to clean up the mess that the old boy's club created.  Her immediate task is to stabilize the ship, and to start plugging holes in the structure. The electorate purged the lost tories, and now she must purge the party administration of the dullards and drips who were responsible for the  electoral losses. Next she must show that the  party can once again be relied upon to stay a pragmatic course. Many conservatives fled to Reform because they felt no one was listening. Get them back. Those who fled to the Lib Dems and Labour will return once their increased taxes are  calculated.

[James105]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

 

Exactly.

 

Personally I think Kemi is a good choice and I am very happy to have her as leader of the opposition. Her gender/colour is irrelevant to me, although I do see the irony that it's the "progressive" Labour party that claim to be obsessed with indentity, DEI and equality yet it's the Conservatives who frequently have female and non-white leaders. 

 

However, we all know that the left are exactly what they accuse others of being. 

 

I hope Kemi tears Starmer a new one at PMQ's.

 

I think it was a mistake that will make it difficult for the Tories to win next time as I don't see much difference between her and Sunak.  I actually think this incarnation of the Tory party are almost as obsessed with gender and colour as the Labour party and instead of choosing the stronger candidate with clearer and actual conservative policies, they have chosen someone who ticks the identity boxes as some kind of stick to beat Labour with.   

 

Time will tell I guess but it's difficult to imagine she is the one that will encourage those 4 million Reform voters to go back to the Conservatives when her policies on immigration are no different or worse than Sunak's.   

 

Of course if the Labour clown show continues on it's current trajectory of uniting the country against Labour then maybe it won't matter.  

[Eloquent pilgrim]

31 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

Great, with cost of living pressures, government deficits, spending out of control, the standard of healthcare plummeting we are going to have a toxic feminist calling the shots. 
That will work out well.

 

To call her a toxic feminist, you must either be a full on misogynist, or a member of the Trans lobby; so which is it ?

 

 

[mokwit]

How will people be able to point out her shortcomings when the Left has its tactics thrown back at it by smirking Tories: "You're just intimidated by a strong black woman in a position off power"

[MalcolmB]

25 minutes ago, transam said:

"Toxic Feminist", can you explain that comment.......?   🥴

I could but I would have to use big words you probably would struggle to comprehend. 

[mokwit]

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

She’s incapable of accepting criticism unable to come to any middle ground accommodation of other people’s views.

So same shortcomings as Starmer then.

[transam]

17 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

I could but I would have to use big words you probably would struggle to comprehend. 

So you wrote something you cannot back-up, how surprising..........😂

 

Waffle-on, chap, bars are open soon, for you.............

[sammieuk1]

Lord Alli's credit card expiry date is is surely Labour's worst nightmare, along with telling the truth, and the future frozen pensioner inquiry compensation bill  🤔

[Chomper Higgot]

1 hour ago, transam said:

🤣.......Put Kemi face to face with your Angela and see what happens..........🤣

 

You obviously have never watched Kemi at the dispatch box burying your opposition Party.

 

Oh, I forgot, you don't watch videos, even from the House, they maybe doctored...............🤣

My Angela?

 

I’ve watched Badenoch arguing with the speaker of the house, utterly embarrassing herself.

 

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

40 minutes ago, mokwit said:

How will people be able to point out her shortcomings when the Left has its tactics thrown back at it by smirking Tories: "You're just intimidated by a strong black woman in a position off power"

She’s neither strong nor in power.

 

Her inability to accept criticism is a weakness, it’s now going to be on full display.