Quote of the day 20th July 2026

 Kemi Badenoch on Britain's new PM:


"Today, Britain has a new Prime Minister.

I wish Andy Burnham well, because Britain needs a government that fixes the country’s problems.

But I am concerned because:

  • He has got the keys to Number 10 without first setting out a clear plan for government.
  • Keir Starmer leaves behind higher welfare spending, rising unemployment, soaring energy costs, record debt interest and taxes that are holding back growth. Britain cannot afford more of the same.
  • We know Labour MPs only care about increasing benefits. As the Welfare Secretary himself admitted, every meeting with a Labour MP is about who they can tax to raise benefits.

That's why I say that changing Prime Minister isn't a silver bullet. The problem wasn't just Keir Starmer, it was the whole Labour Party.

The Conservative Party understands that we must reflect on where we went wrong in our time in office.

Governments should seek a mandate for their plans before taking office, not develop those plans afterwards.

Conservatives have learned from our mistakes. We have changed course on Net Zero, accepted the need to leave the ECHR to secure our borders, and produced a serious Alternative King’s Speech with a detailed plan for government.

The first step is to cut spending, especially the benefits bill, and I have offered Andy Burnham the votes to do this, as his backbenchers won’t.

A government should enter office ready to answer questions and explain its choices. Instead, Burnham has become Prime Minister first and is going to reveal his policies second. That is the wrong way round.

The Conservatives have changed and the choice at the next election is becoming clearer.

Andy Burnham’s Labour, which offers a bigger state, higher taxes and more redistribution OR our new Conservative Party, which offers enterprise, responsibility and growth."


 

Kemi Badenoch 

Leader of the Conservative Party

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