Kemi Badenoch has become the sixth declared contender in the Conservative Party leadership race, vowing to 'renew capitalism' as she launched her campaign. The former Cabinet minister, widely seen as the frontrunner to replace Rishi Sunak, joins Priti Patel, Robert Jenrick, James Cleverly, Tom Tugendhat and Mel Stride in the contest. Nominations close later today, with the final line-up set to be confirmed, and the winner announced in November.
Writing in the Times, Badenoch argued that capitalism has become a 'dirty word' and that the Tories must reclaim it to bounce back from their election defeat. She pledged to 'start from first principles' and speak 'the truth again' on issues including immigration control and public service reform. 'If I have the privilege to serve, we will speak the truth again,' she wrote, adding that her campaign focuses on renewing the party for 2030, the first full year the Tories could return to government.
However, Badenoch's campaign faces potential disruption from an upcoming Guardian investigation into allegations of 'bullying' behaviour by her and alleged impropriety by an aide. Her team has dismissed the investigation as the work of a disgruntled former special adviser and accused other camps of 'dirty tricks' after a dossier of her online comments from nearly 20 years ago was published. Badenoch described the tactics as 'amusing and alarming' and said such 'petty' methods put off the public.
Meanwhile, Suella Braverman has announced she will not run, admitting that not enough MPs agree with her call for a shift to the Right. In the Telegraph, she wrote that there was 'no point' running when most MPs disagree with her diagnosis and prescription. She attributed the party's election defeat to failures on migration, taxes and 'transgender ideology'. Priti Patel, another contender, has promised to put 'unity before personal vendetta' and urged colleagues to avoid a 'soap opera' of infighting.
