Kemi Badenoch’s leadership confession as Tories struggle in polls

WorldPolitics
6 Jun 2025 • 10:47 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Kemi Badenoch admitted she is still learning how to lead the Conservatives after seven months, amid poor poll ratings for the party.
  • Mrs Badenoch likened herself to Margaret Thatcher and David Cameron, saying it "takes quite a while" to learn the job of opposition leader and that she improves weekly.
  • Mrs Badenoch shifted the Tory party towards potentially leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), claiming it hinders border control and deportation of criminals.
  • She has tasked legal experts with examining the implications of leaving the ECHR, with plans to announce findings at the party conference in October.
  • Mrs Badenoch dismissed Reform UK as a "protest party" and insisted the Conservatives were the main opposition to Labour, despite a poor showing in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election.

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