How the Tories can bounce back
Spectator (UK)OCT 10 2024
UK: Kemi Badenoch Replaces Rishi Sunak as Conservative Leader
Above: Kemi Badenoch stands to make a speech after winning the Conservative Party leadership contest on Nov. 2, 2024 in London, England. Image copyright: Dan Kitwood/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Right narrative
While Badenoch's win is a historic political and personal achievement, she must immediately stop the bleeding to Reform UK if the party is to see any success and survival over the next election cycle. To the delight of Farage, the center-right continues to undergo an existential crisis — the party must unite once again and prove that it remains the political force once revered around the world.
Left narrative
Instead of recognizing the self-inflicted errors that handed the Tories their worst election defeat in modern political history, the party doubled down with two hard-right politicians hugely unpopular with the moderate British public. Blinded by Brexit-inspired nationalistic ideals, the Conservatives seem destined to slip further away from a credible electoral challenge.