Live Follow: Badenoch Speech Draws Standing Room Only Crowd
At this year’s Conservative Party conference, the hall’s atmosphere felt markedly different as Kemi Badenoch took the stage. While some shadow cabinet talks had weathered half-empty rooms, Badenoch’s speech drew a standing-room-only crowd at the back of the hall, a sign that her leadership remains a focal point for party members amid a challenging political landscape.
“We fought for them before, and we will fight for them again,” Badenoch asserted, outlining the Conservative platform as one designed to help “people who work hard,” small business owners, and victims of crime. The message was clear: the party must reconnect with the everyday experiences of voters who feel left behind by broader economic and social shifts.
Framing the Problem: Drift, Immigration, and the Public Sector
Badenoch warned of national drift, citing perceived policy missteps that she attributes to previous Conservative governments and, in some cases, to Labour’s immigration approach with France. She argued that a broken immigration model burdens the public sector and pressures public services, even as Britain competes in a rapidly changing global landscape.
On immigration, Badenoch insisted the country should attract “brilliant minds and great talents,” yet criticized the current scale of arrivals as unsustainable. She highlighted what she described as a mismatch between demand for skilled labor and the broader policy framework, calling for tighter border controls to restore national resilience.
The Personal Note: Leadership, Roots, and Resolve
As she thanked friends and supporters, Badenoch balanced formality with candid warmth. She spoke of her long journey—from activist door-knocking to party leadership—framing the moment as a continuation of a long commitment to national service. Her reference to her husband, Hamish, drew cheer and laughter, reinforcing a human dimension to political leadership often lost in policy debates.
“You are my family,” she said, signaling a personal tie to a broader political mission. She asserted that the Conservative Party has
