Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said the Conservative Party is “more united than ever before” and claimed it is the only party with “an actual plan to get Britain working” during a wide-ranging Politics UK interview covering the economy, defence, immigration and the future direction of British politics.
Speaking to Senior Political Correspondent-at-Large at the Daily Mail Christian Calgie, Badenoch argued that recent political developments suggested her party was beginning to recover following its 2024 general election defeat, while setting out her priorities should the Conservatives return to government.
Kemi Badenoch has “a plan to get Britain working”
Badenoch said the Conservatives had emerged from their election defeat more united, pointing to the party’s victory in the Aberdeen South by-election as evidence that its recovery had begun.
“We are a common sense party with an actual plan to get Britain working and we can unite the country,” she said.
While acknowledging there was “a long road ahead”, Badenoch said recent electoral successes demonstrated that there was now “a path” back to government after what she described as the party’s worst ever election defeat.
She also criticised Labour’s handling of the public finances, arguing that any future Prime Minister would need to explain how increased defence spending would be funded.
“If he cannot fund defence… then we should have a general election,” she said, referring to the prospect of Andy Burnham entering Downing Street. Badenoch argued that the next Budget would be the obvious opportunity to set out such funding while maintaining she had been consistent in not calling for elections simply because a governing party had changed leader.
On the economy, she argued that governments must be willing to make difficult decisions rather than prioritising short-term popularity.
“If the books weren’t balanced… that’s why it fell apart,” she said, reflecting on the economic turmoil of 2022 under Liz Truss (during which period she was Trade Secretary), and warning that borrowing without a credible plan could provoke a market reaction.
Immigration, Reform UK and economic growth
Questioned on competition from Reform UK, Badenoch rejected suggestions of any electoral pact with Nigel Farage and said her focus remained on preparing the Conservatives for government.
“I’m coming up with an entire plan for government,” she said, citing policies on energy security, welfare reform, defence funding and economic growth.
She also defended changes to Conservative immigration policy, acknowledging mistakes made while the party was in government.
“We are very sorry. We’ve acknowledged that mistakes have been made,” Badenoch said, adding that the Conservatives now had “the toughest immigration policy that’s out there.”
She repeated calls to stop small boat crossings and deport foreign criminals, arguing that MPs unwilling to support the revised policy should not remain Conservative parliamentarians.
On artificial intelligence, Badenoch compared the technology to the emergence of the internet in the 1990s and argued that government should create the right conditions for investment rather than attempting to direct the sector.
She said lower industrial energy costs, reduced regulation, better access to capital and the development of sovereign AI capability would allow the UK to remain internationally competitive.
Housing was another major topic, with Badenoch identifying limited supply, migration and wider economic conditions as the principal causes of rising house prices. She argued that increasing housebuilding, reducing regulation and abolishing stamp duty would improve affordability while insisting that stronger economic growth remained the long-term solution.
“I’m like the Borg”
Asked whether she had any doubts about becoming Prime Minister, Badenoch said she believed she had the necessary experience while continuing to develop as a politician.
“I think I would do a good job. In fact, I think I’d do better than a good job,” she said.
Describing her approach to leadership, she added: “I’m like the Borg, basically, for those of you who are Star Trek fans. I’m always adding to information, always getting better.”
Badenoch said she regularly sought advice from former Conservative leaders including David Cameron, William Hague and John Major, arguing that drawing on the experience of others made her better prepared for government.
The interview concluded with a discussion of comparisons between Badenoch and Margaret Thatcher. She said she admired the former Prime Minister’s willingness to take difficult decisions, build a strong team and remain focused despite criticism.
Badenoch argued that modern politics had become increasingly tribal due to social media and said her aim was to “bring the country together” through what she described as a programme of “common sense” government.
You can still get a copy of our new edition of ChamberUK. Our parliamentary journal.