In a forceful speech delivered in Westminster, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has declared that centrist ideas are no longer welcome within the party, arguing that one-nation Tories or others who harbour doubts about her rightward direction must "get out of the way." The address, intended to outline her vision following a series of recent defections to Reform UK, saw Badenoch sharply criticise what she labelled the "tantrum" of former shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick and others.
Explicit Rejection of Centrist Approaches
Badenoch explicitly dismissed the efforts of former West Midlands mayor Andy Street and former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson, who have launched a new group within the party aimed at attracting what they term "politically homeless" centrist and centre-right voters. While she stated she welcomes any assistance that could help the Conservatives win an election, Badenoch emphasised that this does not include policies diverging from her right-leaning ideological framework.
"They need to recognise the agenda which I'm setting," Badenoch asserted when questioned about Street and Davidson's initiatives. "I'm the leader of the Conservative party, not to anyone else. And it is what I think needs to happen that they need to support. Anybody who is trying to push an agenda that is not what I got, not the platform I stood on, is not being helpful."
A Clear Rightward Policy Platform
The Conservative leader was unequivocal about her direction, presenting a policy platform aligned with Reform UK's stance, focusing on:
- Substantial reductions in immigration levels
- Opposition to net zero environmental policies
- Significant cuts to social security provisions
- Implementation of lower taxation measures
Badenoch remarked, "My Conservative party has moved to the right every day since I became leader," a line that Tory officials confirmed was removed from the final speech draft solely for length considerations. She added that the Conservatives "have to be a truly Conservative party," expressing indifference if this prompts centrists to depart: "I won't apologise to those walking away because they don't like the new direction. We only want Conservatives."
Potential Electoral Implications
While Badenoch contended that her approach seeks to establish "a common ground" rather than reinforce left-right divisions, this overt repudiation of the historically influential centrist tradition within conservatism is likely to alarm certain party factions. It may also leave her electorally vulnerable, given that the Conservatives lost approximately sixty seats to the Liberal Democrats in the last election, largely due to centrist Tory voters abandoning the party.
Rapturous Reception and Scathing Criticism
The speech was met with enthusiastic approval from the audience of MPs and party members, particularly her vehement attack on defectors to Reform UK, notably targeting Robert Jenrick. Badenoch stated, "To those who are defecting, who don't actually disagree with our policies, I will say: I'm sorry you didn't win the leadership contest, sorry you didn't get into the Lords, but you are not offering a plan to fix this country. This is a tantrum dressed up as politics."
Badenoch concluded with a firm stance on the party's future trajectory: "The people who don't agree with this direction need to get out of the way ... We're about the future, not the past. We're not trying to recreate 2006 and it's not 2016 any more." This declaration underscores a significant ideological shift within the Conservative Party under her leadership.
