Kemi Badenoch, one of the final two contenders for the Conservative Party leadership, has positioned herself as a champion of grassroots campaigning, focusing on direct engagement with party members rather than prioritizing media appearances. Her approach contrasts sharply with that of her rival, Robert Jenrick, who has opted for a more public-facing strategy, delivering speeches and seeking a higher media profile.
Badenoch, the MP for North West Essex, made her intentions clear during a virtual rally with Tory members on Microsoft Teams. “I think we are going to do this. I am not being complacent,” she told attendees. Emphasizing her approach, she added, “I am working hard, I am running a grassroots campaign, not a TV campaign or a media campaign. I am getting out there and I am looking forward to meeting many of you on the campaign trail.”
In a Q&A session during the virtual event, Badenoch addressed key concerns from members, particularly around the party’s strategy for regaining voters. She criticized both Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats, describing them as “two sides of the same coin” and attributing the Lib Dems’ recent gains in Parliament to a split in the Conservative vote caused by Reform. “If we can get our vote back from Reform, I think that would tackle quite a lot of the Lib Dem threat that we face,” she asserted, emphasizing the need for a confident Conservative stance.
While focusing on reclaiming traditional Tory voters, Badenoch also stressed the importance of broadening the party’s appeal. She highlighted the need to “spread out and get the common ground back,” cautioning against veering toward any extreme political direction.
Immigration and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) were also key topics during the discussion. Unlike Jenrick, who has framed the leadership race as a “leave or remain” debate over the ECHR, Badenoch suggested a more measured approach. She emphasized the need to reform domestic laws, such as the Human Rights Act, before considering withdrawal from international treaties. “I think the Human Rights Act, for example, there is a lot that we can do there before looking at international treaties,” she noted. Additionally, she highlighted potential changes to the Equality Act, describing it as a generally positive piece of legislation but one that needs revisiting.
In contrast, Robert Jenrick has focused his campaign on economic reforms and tax cuts, drawing inspiration from the legacy of Margaret Thatcher. In a speech in Westminster, he argued that reducing the benefits bill to pre-pandemic levels could fund a 2p cut in income tax. Jenrick has also proposed reducing the number of civil servants, transforming struggling universities into “apprenticeship hubs,” and reforming the planning system to expedite house-building. “I am setting a simple target: we will bring the inactivity rate back down to its pre-pandemic level, bringing almost 500,000 people back into the workforce,” he stated.
Jenrick has emphasized the need for “responsible” tax cuts, criticizing the approach taken during the Liz Truss administration. He described her mini-budget, which combined tax cuts with extensive spending on energy bill support, as a “damaging episode” and called it “the largest single welfare bailout, I think, in our country’s modern history.”
The race to succeed Rishi Sunak is now in its final phase, with Conservative Party members voting until October 31 and the winner set to be announced on November 2. The leadership contest comes at a crucial time for the party as it seeks to unite its base and define its direction ahead of the next general election.
Born in Wimbledon to Nigerian parents, Olukemi Adegoke Badenoch has a personal story that resonates with many in the party. Although born in the UK, she spent much of her childhood in Nigeria and the United States before returning to the UK at age 16 due to political and economic instability in Nigeria. Badenoch has often described herself as “to all intents and purposes a first-generation immigrant,” offering a unique perspective to her candidacy. If elected as Conservative leader, she would become the first African to hold the post.
As the race to lead the Conservative Party heats up, Badenoch’s grassroots approach and emphasis on party unity could be decisive in winning the support of members. Whether it will be enough to secure her the leadership against Jenrick’s more media-focused campaign remains to be seen.
