Kemi Badenoch has declared that centrist ideas are no longer welcome in the Conservative Party, urging one-nation Tories who doubt her rightward direction to “get out of the way”. In a speech in Westminster, the party leader set out her vision following recent defections to Reform UK, explicitly rejecting the approach of Andy Street and Ruth Davidson, who launched the Prosper UK group for centrist and centre-right voters.
Badenoch said she welcomed help to win elections but insisted it must align with her right-leaning agenda. “I’m the leader of the Conservative party, not anyone else. And it is what I think needs to happen that they need to support,” she stated. Her policy platform includes cutting immigration, opposing net zero, slashing social security, and lowering taxes.
The Conservative leader was unapologetic about her direction, saying: “I won’t apologise to those walking away because they don’t like the new direction. We only want Conservatives.” She also criticised defectors like Robert Jenrick, calling their moves a “tantrum dressed up as politics”.
The Lib Dems’ Daisy Cooper said Badenoch’s message to moderate voters was clear: “she doesn’t want their support”. A Prosper UK spokesperson welcomed her focus on growth but said they would continue engaging with voters on issues like the cost of living and housing.
