Newly elected Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has dismissed the Partygate scandal as “overblown,” saying it’s time for the party to “stop churning over” past controversies.
Badenoch, who took over the leadership on Saturday, November 2, emphasized she aims to be “honest” about mistakes made under former Tory prime ministers, but her sights are firmly set on moving forward.
In her first statements as leader, Badenoch praised Boris Johnson as a “great prime minister,” suggesting he was a victim of Covid regulations that, in her view, should never have been enacted.
She explained that, while she resigned during Johnson’s tenure due to “serious issues,” her decision was unrelated to Partygate, which she described as excessive in its reaction.
Asked whether the public was justified in feeling angry over Partygate, especially since Johnson and his Downing Street staff failed to adhere to the Covid rules they created, Badenoch responded, “No, they were not wrong to be upset about Partygate. The problem was that we should not have criminalized everyday activities the way that we did.”
According to her, restrictions on daily activities during the pandemic led to an unfortunate “trap” for Johnson, which eventually damaged his credibility and the party’s standing.
Despite the controversy, Badenoch acknowledged the need for the Conservatives to confront past missteps, particularly on issues where public trust has wavered. “We need to be honest, that we got things wrong,” she said, while also expressing her intention to avoid dwelling on past incidents.
“What I don’t want to do this morning is start listing all of the things that we got wrong. There’s plenty of time to do that. What I’m here to do is set out how there’s going to be a change under my leadership.”
Kemi Badenoch
Restoring Public Trust Key to New Leadership
Badenoch pointed to a “loss of public trust” as a major issue the Conservatives must address, citing unmet promises on immigration and taxation as critical factors. In a jab at Labour, she added that making hollow promises is detrimental, referencing Labour’s Chancellor Rachel Reeves and her “unrealistic” manifesto commitments as examples of policy proposals that can backfire.
“Promises on immigration and on tax were not kept and that is something that we need to change,” Badenoch stated. She emphasized that “Making promises without a plan, as we have seen with Rachel Reeves… will create a breakdown in the public trust.”
The new leader’s comments received swift criticism from Labour. Ellie Reeves, Labour Party chair, argued Badenoch’s dismissal of Partygate as “overblown” was an affront to families who followed strict lockdown rules.
“Listening to Kemi Badenoch dismiss Partygate as ‘overblown’ will add insult to injury for families across Britain who followed the rules, missing loved one’s deaths and family funerals, whilst her colleagues partied in Downing Street.”
Ellie Reeves
Reeves continued to question the new leader’s stance on public spending cuts, particularly concerning education, while criticizing Badenoch’s perceived loyalty to former Prime Minister Liz Truss despite the fallout from her controversial mini-budget.
“The leader may have changed but, on her first day in the job, Kemi Badenoch has proved three times that the Tories haven’t listened and they haven’t learned,” Reeves concluded.
As Badenoch steps into her new role, her call for honesty, and a focus on rebuilding public trust, aims to differentiate her leadership from her predecessors.
For Badenoch, Partygate is a chapter that should be closed, with her priority now set on creating a future that resonates with a public demanding transparency, integrity, and realistic solutions.
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