SwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

She's supposed to get the Tories out of the crisis - but it's unclear how

Kemi Badenoch is the first black woman to lead the British Conservative Tory Party. She has made herself known as "anti-woke" and is critical of identity politics. My guess is that she will hit quite hard on social issues, says political scientist Nicholas Aylott.

» Published: November 03 2024

She's supposed to get the Tories out of the crisis - but it's unclear how
Photo: Alberto Pezzali/AP/TT

Kemi Badenoch has taken over the baton in the crisis-ridden Tory party. But it's unclear what policy she wants to pursue.

She takes over the party in a fairly desperate situation, notes Nicholas Aylott, political scientist at the Foreign Policy Institute and Södertörn University.

In the election, the Tory party went from having a majority of seats in the House of Commons to getting just over 15 percent. It's the worst election the party has ever had.

The 44-year-old Badenoch was elected as the new party leader on Saturday. As the first black female party leader, she has already made history, but it's not something she herself has highlighted.

Belongs to the right-wing faction

She belongs to the party's right-wing faction and took over the post from Rishi Sunak - who resigned after the disastrous election. But it's not at all clear what path the party will take now, says Aylott.

She has won the party leadership without promising much in terms of specific policy.

It can be seen as a success, where Badenoch now has relatively free reins to lead the party where she wants.

Badenoch has held ministerial posts in previous governments. As Minister for Equal Opportunities, she took the lead when the then-government blocked a Scottish bill aimed at simplifying gender change. She has also opposed gender-neutral toilets, according to BBC. Recently, she received criticism for saying that "not all cultures are equally valuable".

She is very much against identity politics, where - as she would see it - political interest is created primarily according to sexuality or skin color, says Aylott.

Direction for the party

When it comes to economic policy, her stance is more unclear. She voted for Brexit but took a more pragmatic role in subsequent decisions regarding the abolition of EU legislation.

Now the party needs to make a choice. One path can be to try to outcompete the Reform UK party with Nigel Farage at the helm by moving further to the right on economic issues. At the same time, the party has lost many middle-of-the-road voters.

My guess is that she will hit hard on social issues, while taking a more centrist approach to economic policy.

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Trump suggests Putin may be stalling Ukraine peace efforts
1 MIN READ

Trump suggests Putin may be stalling Ukraine peace efforts

Vance's Greenland Visit Shifts Focus to Military Base, Easing Concerns
2 MIN READ

Vance's Greenland Visit Shifts Focus to Military Base, Easing Concerns

South Korea Battles Historic Wildfires: 18 Dead, Thousands Evacuated
1 MIN READ

South Korea Battles Historic Wildfires: 18 Dead, Thousands Evacuated

Waltz Owns Up to Military Chat Leak, Calls It Embarrassing
2 MIN READ

Waltz Owns Up to Military Chat Leak, Calls It Embarrassing

Protesters in Gaza Call for End to Conflict and Criticize Hamas
1 MIN READ

Protesters in Gaza Call for End to Conflict and Criticize Hamas

Trump Criticizes Europe for Relying on US Defense Support
1 MIN READ

Trump Criticizes Europe for Relying on US Defense Support

JD Vance Joins Wife Usha on Greenland Trip Amid US-Denmark Tensions
2 MIN READ

JD Vance Joins Wife Usha on Greenland Trip Amid US-Denmark Tensions

UN Reports Over 21,600 Syrians Flee to Lebanon After Violence
1 MIN READ

UN Reports Over 21,600 Syrians Flee to Lebanon After Violence

Prime Minister Kristersson Joins Macron's Ukraine Talks in Paris
1 MIN READ

Prime Minister Kristersson Joins Macron's Ukraine Talks in Paris

US Officials Discuss Yemen Strike in Leaked Chat with Journalist
3 MIN READ

US Officials Discuss Yemen Strike in Leaked Chat with Journalist

Kristersson Calls Turkey's Arrest of Erdogan Rival Very Alarming
1 MIN READ

Kristersson Calls Turkey's Arrest of Erdogan Rival Very Alarming

Burundi President Accuses Rwanda of Plotting Attack, Calls for Dialogue
1 MIN READ

Burundi President Accuses Rwanda of Plotting Attack, Calls for Dialogue

US Coast Guard Joins Arctic Exercise in Northern Norway
1 MIN READ

US Coast Guard Joins Arctic Exercise in Northern Norway

Pope's Doctor Faced Tough Choice During Critical Health Crisis
2 MIN READ

Pope's Doctor Faced Tough Choice During Critical Health Crisis

Russia Launches Drone Assaults on Ukraine as Talks Continue in Saudi Arabia
1 MIN READ

Russia Launches Drone Assaults on Ukraine as Talks Continue in Saudi Arabia

Doctors Without Borders Reports Brutal Attacks on Children in Congo
3 MIN READ

Doctors Without Borders Reports Brutal Attacks on Children in Congo

Protests Surge in Istanbul Over Mayor Imamoglu's Imprisonment
2 MIN READ

Protests Surge in Istanbul Over Mayor Imamoglu's Imprisonment

23 Illegally Stripped of Danish Citizenship Due to Law Misinterpretation
1 MIN READ

23 Illegally Stripped of Danish Citizenship Due to Law Misinterpretation

Hundreds Dead in Sudan Market Air Raid, Rights Group Reports
2 MIN READ

Hundreds Dead in Sudan Market Air Raid, Rights Group Reports

Japan Court Orders Shutdown of Moon Sect Operations
2 MIN READ

Japan Court Orders Shutdown of Moon Sect Operations

Israeli Strikes on Gaza Claim Over 20 Lives Overnight
1 MIN READ

Israeli Strikes on Gaza Claim Over 20 Lives Overnight

Motorcyclist Tragically Killed in South Korea Sinkhole Near Seoul
1 MIN READ

Motorcyclist Tragically Killed in South Korea Sinkhole Near Seoul

Kremlin Ties Black Sea Truce to Lifting US Sanctions on Agriculture
2 MIN READ

Kremlin Ties Black Sea Truce to Lifting US Sanctions on Agriculture

EU Membership Support Reaches Record High in Latest Poll
1 MIN READ

EU Membership Support Reaches Record High in Latest Poll

EU Faces Limited Options as Tensions Rise in Turkey
2 MIN READ

EU Faces Limited Options as Tensions Rise in Turkey

Israel Strikes Syria: Multiple Fatalities Reported in Latest Attacks
2 MIN READ

Israel Strikes Syria: Multiple Fatalities Reported in Latest Attacks

Trump Dismisses Military Chat Leak as Minor Blunder
3 MIN READ

Trump Dismisses Military Chat Leak as Minor Blunder

German Nurse on Trial for Allegedly Murdering Patients to Ease Workload
1 MIN READ

German Nurse on Trial for Allegedly Murdering Patients to Ease Workload

Trump Calls for Removal of 'Distorted' Portrait in Colorado Capitol
1 MIN READ

Trump Calls for Removal of 'Distorted' Portrait in Colorado Capitol

Artillery Attack on Sudan Mosque Leaves Five Dead in Khartum
1 MIN READ

Artillery Attack on Sudan Mosque Leaves Five Dead in Khartum

Indian Court Rules Watching Porn Not Grounds for Divorce
1 MIN READ

Indian Court Rules Watching Porn Not Grounds for Divorce

American Journalist Accidentally Receives US Military Plans for Yemen Attack
3 MIN READ

American Journalist Accidentally Receives US Military Plans for Yemen Attack

UN Scales Back Gaza Operations Following Headquarters Incident
1 MIN READ

UN Scales Back Gaza Operations Following Headquarters Incident

South Sudan Faces Worst Cholera Outbreak in Two Decades
1 MIN READ

South Sudan Faces Worst Cholera Outbreak in Two Decades

Cyberattack Disrupts Ukraine's Railway Booking System
1 MIN READ

Cyberattack Disrupts Ukraine's Railway Booking System

Over 60 Dead in Latest Israeli Airstrikes on Gaza, Red Cross Hit
2 MIN READ

Over 60 Dead in Latest Israeli Airstrikes on Gaza, Red Cross Hit

Ex-Danish Minister Charged with Possession of Child Abuse Images
1 MIN READ

Ex-Danish Minister Charged with Possession of Child Abuse Images

US Aid Halt Sparks Environmental Concerns in Vietnam Cleanup Effort
5 MIN READ

US Aid Halt Sparks Environmental Concerns in Vietnam Cleanup Effort

Iran Signals Willingness for Indirect Talks with US on Nuclear Issue
1 MIN READ

Iran Signals Willingness for Indirect Talks with US on Nuclear Issue

Turkish Police Arrest Journalists Covering Istanbul Protests
1 MIN READ

Turkish Police Arrest Journalists Covering Istanbul Protests