Kemi Badenoch interview: “We must stop pretending that integration is working”

Kemi Badenoch – the front-runner in the race to succeed Rishi Sunak as Conservative leader speaks to the Telegraph in her first interview since announcing her leadership campaign.

Badenoch joins Liam to discuss Brexit, trade deals and how she thinks she can take the party forwards as leader of the opposition.

Also joining them is former Tory MP for Bournemouth Conor Burns who discusses his experience in light of the recent bullying allegations against Badenoch.

Badenoch’s straight-talking, combative nature has attracted fans and critics in equal measure. The bookies’ favourite to become the sixth Tory leader in eight years, she remains the most popular choice among Conservative party members – who will decide from two candidates put forward by the party’s diminished ranks in the House of Commons, with the three-month contest due to conclude in early November.

#conservatives #leadership #politics

[richardoppong]

Kemi nearly converted me in to a CONSERVATIVE!!! We need more real and authentic people like her in POLITICS!!!

[mahuanhit]

I love this women. She is encouraging, calm, smart, righteous, and brave.

[paulmonkcom]

All my life (61yrs) I wished for a Politician like this...she has to be PM. 🔥🔥🔥

[Lucerne]

She is currently the only person who makes me listen to the Tories.

[emac]

Look at the Wembley school where everyone is treated the same, meals are eaten together ethnicities and religions work together as the Head and her staff have cultivated an inclusive school and no group takes precedence.

[relaxtogether]

Kemi Badenoch is a very rare and special politician, highly intelligent, always up on her brief, she uses her acute common sense and reason, coupled with pragmatism and integrity to drive decision and then action. Please support Kemi for all our sakes!

[Mary-ahern]

I like Kemi she is one of the few politicians with conviction and honesty .

[niguel]

She is an intelligent and humane breath of fresh air. The comparison with Margret Thatcher is a good one. We fail to appoint her at our peril. Also, well chaired Liam.

[abuyusef]

What a fantastic individual! Intelligent, articulate, enthusiastic, far-sighted and principled… what this country has been waiting for for decades. The Tories will be fools not to elect her as leader. I’m a Party member and donor and will be resigning my membership if she doesn’t win.

[richardoppong]

As a Labor voter for the past 24 years, I have for the first time I will consider voting the conservatives if Kemi becomes their leader. I like what I am hearing

[Graypatia]

Honest and pragmatic --- a refreshing change.

[danguee]

Having hated the Tories all my life - John Major briefly aside - I finally see someone in Kemi whom I respect: truth-speaking, balanced and strong. Strangely, I actually didn't mind Rishi - I just think he had an impossible job: a corrupt, incompetent, self-serving, internecine party! And inheriting a governmental mess... But I like what I hear from Kemi.

[simonbooth]

Never voted Tory in my life but, Kemi could win me over

[steveherbert]

Whatever Kemi does, whatever your politics. She is an impressive individual for sure. Actually sounds like a real leader

[NigelDevenish]

Kemi is the ONLY conservative politician who addresses the uncomfortable “causes” of current social unrest.

She needs to win - we need her to win. An excellent interview.

[gfrangi]

Smart, straightforward, no complexs, good

[jemfrankel]

One of the very few reasons to even contemplate voting Conservative (ever) is this woman!

[advocate]

I loved it when we were colourblind. People were just people - my bestie (sadly prematurely dead from cancer) was black, but it was never ever discussed. She was just Babs, a well-regarded barrister, whose fierce intelligence was matched by a bigger heart. Identity politics has forced everyone to back their tribe. Looks like the white community is expressing itself now, albeit not very productively. Expect Reform to win big next year's local elections next May. Let's see. We left the UK last year for a better option - very odd watching it all from a distance.

[nowgrownup]

Class, well spoken, educated, intelligent, common sense and a sense of humour she should be prime minister 🇬🇧

[monkeh]

Kemi is definitely the leader the Conservatives need right now, someone willing to actually say what they think in an intellectual way without fear of being stigmatised by the left.