Kemi Badenoch says she wants to channel public “anger” towards Labour, as she seeks to position the Conservatives as the only party willing to make the “tough decisions” facing the UK.
Speaking to One’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg , the Tory leader accused Sir Keir Starmer of failing to properly fund the armed forces, despite “spending too much” overall in other areas.
And she accused Reform UK of an “authoritarian” desire to “control” industry, citing its policies on the oil sector and carmaker Rolls-Royce.
She added that the Tories were now better positioned to oppose the Starmer government, now that the public has seen Labour’s “draconian” first 18 months in office.
“It’s clearer what they are doing, so it is clearer what we are opposing,” she told Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, adding that the Conservatives had started to go beyond offering “reflexive opposition”.
“I’m trying to channel the anger that a lot of people out there feel about the way the country is being run,” she added.
She added that the Conservatives had “learned a lot of lessons” since their ejection from power in the 2024 general election.
“We think we’re the only party that’s both competent enough and brave enough to take the tough decisions that will get the country in the right place,” she said.