In Kemi we (don’t) trust
David Vance SubstackRead More
I have long since had it with the Uniparty. Labour, Conservative and LibDem, they exist to betray us. The Conservatives blundered to a historic defeat in 2024 and in the ashes they replaced Rishi Sunak with Kemi Badenoch. Now I will admit that she has been an improvement but I think that trusting the Conservatives under her is still foolish. Badenoch may be sharper than some of her predecessors, but sharpness is not the same as seriousness, and after another bruising election defeat in May the Tories still appear directionless.
The first problem is trust itself. A party cannot rebuild confidence after 14 years in office by simply changing the leader and hoping voters forget all about the track record. Badenoch inherited a party still associated with broken promises, infighting and drift and recent election results show it is still going backwards. The trust is just not there and if you go beyond Badenoch and a few others, there is an absence of talent.
The second problem is that Badenoch’s Conservatives are still struggling to define what they stand for in a world where Reform is devouring their right flank and Labour is to their left. That leaves the Conservatives sounding either cautious to the point of invisibility or reactive to whatever Farage says next. A party that cannot decide whether it wants to have a clean break from the past or become just a softer version of it is not a party worth entrusting with power.
There is also a credibility gap on delivery. Badenoch talks tough, but the party machine around her looks weak. The Conservatives have already lost the benefit of the doubt with many voters.
Finally, the idea that Badenoch will somehow restore trust just because she is not Rishi Sunak or Liz Truss is dodgy politics. Our country is not looking for another reset, another internal briefing war or another promise that “this time it will be different.”
It is looking for competence, clarity and a sense that a party has actually learned something. Kemi keeps droning on about being the only party with a plan but I think that whilst she might believe that, millions don’t.
The kindest thing I can think to say is that she is the right leader at the wrong time.
