Kemi Badenoch will assert that the Conservative Party will not regain the confidence of the British public by merely “highlighting the failures of Labour.”
During the unveiling of her Conservative leadership bid this Monday, the former Secretary of State for Business will critique the government, claiming it has failed to provide “alternatives that are better”.
Although she will enumerate various grievances, such as “attempting to mislead the British populace regarding the condition of the UK’s finances,” she will emphasize that such criticisms will not aid her party in winning the upcoming elections.
“If the Conservatives aspire to regain the trust of the British public, we cannot simply sit back and berate how dreadful Labour is… as enjoyable as that might be,” Ms Badenoch is expected to comment.
“We cannot merely revisit the same policy debates from the previous parliament. We suffered a loss. We are no longer in command.
“Labour will falter; and when that moment arrives, and the British people seek transformation, we must embody that change.
“We must concentrate on rejuvenation. The revitalization of our party, our political landscape, and our ideologies.”
The Conservatives faced their most significant general election defeat in July, paving the way for Labour to assume power for the first time in 14 years.
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Labour sweep into power
Within the Conservative Party, there are divisions regarding its future direction, with some advocating a shift back to the centre and others endorsing a move to the right to confront the rise of Reform UK.
Ms Badenoch, regarded as a frontrunner from the right, is contending against five other candidates in the contest to succeed Rishi Sunak: Robert Jenrick, James Cleverly, Dame Priti Patel, Tom Tugendhat, and Mel Stride.
Mr Cleverly will also deliver a speech on Monday, coinciding with the return of parliament from its summer break, in which he will state that his party must “think and act like Conservatives again” and advocate for a diminished role of the state.
James Cleverly
He will assert that the Tories “must enhance our approach” to supply answers for “an unpredictable world, international migration, and a crisis of faith in capitalism”.
“This necessitates a candid and realistic discussion on the state’s role. What it ought to and can achieve, and what it ought not to and cannot do. The government should prioritize executing fewer tasks exceptionally well, rather than attempting everything poorly,” he will add.
“We acknowledge that the government bears a fundamental responsibility to safeguard its citizens and its borders. However, Conservatives must be forthright about the trade-offs entailed in effectively fulfilling these duties.”
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Mr Cleverly will further contend for a “family-centric society,” rather than turning to the government as the primary source of assistance in times of crisis.
The candidates are appealing for backing from their fellow MPs before the initial round of voting on Wednesday, after which the number of contenders will be whittled down to four.
The lead-up to the vote has already featured prominent speeches from Mr. Tugendhat, Ms. Patel, and Mr. Jenrick in recent days.
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A hustings event is scheduled to take place during the party conference at the end of the month, where MPs will cast their votes again to narrow the field down to two candidates.
The broader party membership will subsequently vote, with the winner to be announced on 2 November.
