Kemi Badenoch launched the Conservatives' local election campaign in Westminster on Thursday, but the event was marred by a technical failure when a video showcasing her leadership highlights failed to play. The glitch occurred as James Cleverly, the warm-up act, attempted to screen the footage, leaving the screen blank twice before he abandoned the attempt.
The launch, held at St John's Smith Square, saw around 100 Tory activists chanting and waving flags, despite the party trailing in the polls at around 17%. Shadow cabinet members sat in the front row, with John Redwood spotted in the background. The atmosphere was described as surreal, reminiscent of past Tory triumphs under Margaret Thatcher or Boris Johnson, but set against the reality of impending electoral losses.
Badenoch's speech included pledges to drill in the North Sea for energy security, hire 10,000 extra police officers, and ban drugs in public spaces. She also criticised Labour for failing to fix the mess left by 14 years of Tory rule, seemingly oblivious to her own party's role. The Guardian's John Crace characterised the event as 'mean-spirited' and 'positively deranged', noting that Badenoch's claims lacked logical consistency.
The technical mishap drew comparisons to the party's declining fortunes, with the video failure symbolising a lack of memorable achievements. Badenoch, who became leader in 2022, has seen Tory support slump from the high 20s to the mid-teens. The local elections are expected to result in significant losses for the Conservatives.
