Kemi Badenoch launches Tory leadership bid as she vows to wage war on woke

“What was interesting to me about Kemi Badenoch’s piece in The Times today was her focus on nasty identity politics, which I think is going to be a big part of her pitch.”
Positioning herself as a “culture warrior” could backfire on Kemi Badenoch’s leadership bid because voters “aren’t interested” in those issues, says The Times columnist Rachel Sylvester.
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[@kiriakoz]

Do these people have anything other than culture wars? Where’s the policies that will actually improve people’s lives?

[@IMAC1776]

They are basically the same as Labour’s

[@rockallmusic]

That's not fair, they improve the lives of PPE contractors (who have only been operating the business for a single day and just so happen to be their mates)

[@ianinkster2261]

The function of Kemi is to end culture wars. Keep up.

[@rafaelmartinvannostrand2084]

Brexit support has been the major tory policy for the last 8 years. That has made disappear any trace of moderation in the party and this is what is left: culture wars. And Kemi, as hard to believe it is, is one of the moderates compared with people like Suella or my Jacob Reeg

[@ianinkster2261]

@@rafaelmartinvannostrand2084 This is projection. It's the Tories that wanted the subject of Brexit over with -- that's how Boris got his landslide -- public boredom with Brexit, which has been prolonged b the left. The left is shadow boxing these topics into prominence. They could have just got Brexit over with. They could have kept the crazy on campus, etc etc etc. It becomes the duty of the right to put these thnigs away (EU, campus crazies etc) and the left accuse them of "culture war"

[@danmayberry1185]

Suggested slogan: You can't spell Badenoch without Enoch

[@tomsochy1238]

Bad Enoch.

[@BreezeBoo]

Her name is Olukemi Olufunto . But she's embarrassed of her name and r..e ! She thinks she's white 😂

[@maxwild1212]

I think she makes an excellent point, the Tories lost the election on 4 July because their leader didn't behave enough like an unedifying adult toddler.

[@Afghamistam]

The newest chapter in the long running saga: Who Is The Stupidest Conservative Politician?

[@user-zc4yd9ss7h]

KB will tear into her colleagues from the word go. Total loose cannon without a sense of her own limitations. An ideal next Tory leader, therefore.

[@ScruffyTubbles]

Exciting times. Having someone quite vocal careering around the HoC.

[@dianamincher6479]

She's a UFO blowing up civilisation!

[@gavinthompson687]

Poor Kemi is in for a shock. She is just the wrong colour for the activists to support her. Watch for the reaction when thst comes out!

[@michaelkennedy3372]

Yeah i dont one of the low IQ ones .

[@sp4rksmontana486]

She’s so deluded she can’t see it. Hopefully the penny will drop one day

[@bb5979]

Lol i love how you have different energy towards her based on race though.... if she was white she would be the worst liar and racist on earth in your eyes. gotcha, racist.

[@alanhargreaves-thevoiceofr2361]

Wrong ..thats her greatest assett .

[@tomsochy1238]

@@sp4rksmontana486 it'll be hilarious when she gets a load of racist abuse. She won't be able to combat it because that will be "woke". So she'll have to grin and take it. Imbecile.

[@meganhuggins7494]

Final nail in the Tory coffin!! ( from a lifelong , never again Tory voter)

[@GG-hu9dn]

Shame on anyone that votes for a corporate fascist ?!

[@rogerdodger1790]

Ill pass on a nigerian leader thanks.

[@user-uj5zg5qs7g]

Nobody is bothered about the tories there done as a force in this country people won’t forget what they did while in power

[@michaelmcquillan3532]

Not sure think liebour will fk up big time

[@PtolemyJones]

Baffling that reality still hasn't sunk in, and that the Tories haven't tried to drift back to the center a bit, from their far Right failure.

[@SubjectiveFunny]

They were never far right. Stop being silly.

[@PtolemyJones]

@@SubjectiveFunny Your screen name is pretty accurate.

[@abcxyz53]

Tories with their far right multicultural gay marriage liberalism. What?

[@chrispalmer7893]

Excellent, that will keep the Tories focused on imaginary non-issues that only they care about for a while. Can't think of a better way to keep them nice and irrelevant for the foreseeable future.

[@dazjackson1972]

Kemi played the race card when she was verbally attacked by David Tennant - she also played the "as a woman" card. That's not a good look - there were several other approaches she could have taken in response.

[@shelleyphilcox4743]

@dazjackson1972 I think Kemi was being 'tongue in cheek' in her remark, making the point to those who do subscribe to identity politics abandon their principles depending on whether they think you have the correct politics.

[@dazjackson1972]

@@shelleyphilcox4743 Possible I suppose, but that would be a risky gambit for a politician - considering how vigilant they are against being quoted out of context.

[@KEIRFerretUpGammonTrowzaaah]

@@dazjackson1972 Yawn

[@dazjackson1972]

@@KEIRFerretUpGammonTrowzaaah Don't black Labour voters usually have a little more to say than just "🥱 yawn"?

[@KEIRFerretUpGammonTrowzaaah]

@@dazjackson1972 White Reform voters are now irrelevant. Yawn.

[@bennyfactor1]

Take it further to the right and surround herself with like minded people who are past masters at nasty identity politics to fight 'nasty identity politics'? Yup, that'll work a treat. As long as she doesn't lose her ability to fly off the handle and insult people who ask her the difficult questions. That always goes down well.

[@ianinkster2261]

Eh? Kemi is one of those who would end the onslaught of deranged identitarianism that emerged from phoney US university department in 2014, culminating in the attack on the Whitehouse etc.

[@user-sp5bz2uq8b]

None of them, absolutely none of them will bring the Tories back!! The Tories are poisonous and will never be back in power 😊😊! Happy days!!!❤🎉

[@paulstevens9409]

Labour are worse

[@abcxyz53]

Happy days? Nope, things are going to get much worse.

[@dw-yl3ln]

Yep, everyone is talking about the Tory leadership election. Not new tensions in the Middle East, the olympics, the financial black hole the tories left or the junior doctors strike finally getting resolved because the tories couldn’t be arsed doing a days work.

[@robinmcara793]

Spot on. This is not journalism

[@bb5979]

“Financial black hole” Lol wait till labour are done, they will make the tories look astute.

[@DrRichardKimbel]

Do we have any White conservatives left in Great Britain?!?

[@KEIRFerretUpGammonTrowzaaah]

They're all Reform Racists

[@alanhargreaves-thevoiceofr2361]

there are more in Kenya now . . .!

[@KEIRFerretUpGammonTrowzaaah]

@@alanhargreaves-thevoiceofr2361 and all "Rhodesia" racists

[@ThePixey1000]

Kemi Badenoch If this arrogant miss know it all know nothing was to become the leader I would not and neither would all my family and friends would vote tory ever again. Looks like we are REFORM voters for life now.

[@dwaynedibley2790]

If that happens. Bye bye con party. Yahooo

[@parvezvelji5133]

Kemi for PM ? “ Badenough “ is too inept !

[@garypowell1540]

I advise you not to underestimate either the intellect or the abilities of Kemi Badenoch.

[@alanhargreaves-thevoiceofr2361]

She is very clever ..considering the Impairment of Low i.q . . .!

[@philthrelfall5294]

Yes please. Making Bad-enough leader will consign the Tories to history!

[@seanmcgarrigan3942]

lol miss angry shouty shouty , every time her lies are revealed, this could be the best ever Tory comedy moment 😅

[@MiniLemmy]

The irony of a DEI hire to fight woke……

[@debbielondon1809]

That's not fair! She is clearly intelligent and has a persuasive, strong personality.

[@KEIRFerretUpGammonTrowzaaah]

@@MiniLemmy Merit only. Gammon racist THICK-boxes like you banned.

[@KEIRFerretUpGammonTrowzaaah]

@@AndyBeez Wrong. It originated from slavery in the US

[@rockallmusic]

*Tories*: Oh no, the average age people switch from Tory to Labour is now in the 70s! *Also Tories*: Oh no, we're out of power until at least 2029 or 2034, when our voter base will be gone! *Also Tories*: Let's attack the values of everyone under 40!

[@abcxyz53]

All of us under 40 are into immigration and liberalism? You're very delusional.

[@andysherwood]

Yeah, go on Tories, do it.

[@albertslippe9221]

Do the misguided tories know what they are doing again?There are all not good ànd they need to reinstate Boris. Boris is the only one who can save the tories.Otherwise the tories must be prepared to stay in opposition for a very long time.

[@toadinthehole8085]

Nobody will touch them with a badge poll

[@user-zd9pj5kb8x]

No thank you

[@lindsaybelderson7735]

The irony is she identifies as a white woman.

[@paulstevens9409]

Perhaps she's just fair and reasonable

[@sp4rksmontana486]

Kemi has an attitude problem and has a chip on her shoulder

[@KEIRFerretUpGammonTrowzaaah]

@@sp4rksmontana486 you can talk

[@bb5979]

If controlled opposition was ever a thing

[@sharoncarolbrand1645]

Kemi would be AWFUL complete arrogance no understanding of Tories heaven help us

[@lime187]

With a country racist as the uk she stands no chance

[@michaelkennedy3372]

Great !

[@meganhuggins7494]

How many white politicians in Nigeria? Does that make Nigeria racist?

[@alanhargreaves-thevoiceofr2361]

if Britain is so 'racist' .how come it stands for 10 million foreigners abusing its Land and peoples every single day ? . . . ..

[@lime187]

@meganhuggins7494 I'm just saying with groups like edl and anything I see in the uk media person is coloured or different religion is attacked sometimes just for that

[@KEIRFerretUpGammonTrowzaaah]

@@meganhuggins7494 Merit only. White institutional racism banned.

[@adriftinaboat3452]

Kemi Badenoch asked officials to pay for a holiday flight with taxpayers’ money to the United States while in government but was rebuffed by her former department’s top civil servant-disgraceful

[@GamerX13X]

The conservatives have a competency problem. You all made it clear over there that the tories had made a mess and been a mess. And whomever is leader needs to assure the people that the party has learned from their mistakes. And I don't think Kemi seems up for that kind of pitch, up to this point. I do think she's gonna do super well in the leadership election, but her downfall if she doesn't win is focusing on the wrong things.

[@mange2]

If Kemi wins the first thing to be said about her wont be her ability to lead, her economic acumen or views on changes to the Tori manifesto. The first thing to be said will be "she's the first black female to lead the Conservative party". GURARANTEED.

[@ArtyAntics]

They need to deal with the traffickers bringing people over the boarder in boats. They risk people’s lives and take their life savings for the privilege.

[@keith8609]

There is far too much woke nonsense about

[@Whysofake]

No thanks

[@dianamincher6479]

Non transparent Tories playing the race card and exotica in a bid to find a leader to lead them out of the Tory snake pit!

[@jimboslice4468]

If you don't think the olympics is about winning, ESPECIALLY to the athletes, then you need your head checking

[@susannamarker2582]

You cannot do right of centre, capitalist politics in the UK, not since the Blair/Brown reforms of 1997-2010. We should reverse the Blair/Brown reforms of 1997-2010, starting with Blair's american Supreme Court and all his single-issue committees, like the OBR, Climate Commission, etc., which sit above Parliament, and whose rulings squeeze the sovereign power of Parliament, and squeeze the value of your vote and of mine.

[@claireday8593]

That’s all we need from all politicians regardless of their colour their identity left or right views is to stop the boats and to show the British people we matter. The issue at the moment is the illegal immigrants are getting looked out for far more than the actual British people. The government should be looking to make life better for the Brits rather than worrying about other countries constantly and people entering our country illegally that we know nothing about and they are all 18 to 30 year old males.

[@GarethJones-yt1hr]

I was a tory councillor for 24 years. No thanks to Badenoch

[@anthonyspeakman3073]

No foreigners please

[@KEIRFerretUpGammonTrowzaaah]

@@anthonyspeakman3073 Rules you out then

[@michaelwojcieszek6902]

LOL

[@grumblewoof4721]

Badenoch as Tory party leader ? Sorry, I am not feeling it. Next ....

[@ScruffyTubbles]

True about 'Rigged Capitalism' but this is protected and maintained by both the parties - the Uni-party.

[@elainecameron5545]

No thanks, still wouldnt go back to tories ever

[@Waterhouse1666]

She'll implode, as she has the temper and self control of a child. Also she is as bad at politics as Sunak is. If she's the frontrunner, god help them.

[@BBoyDreamz]

Kemi pointing out that dividing people up by race is divisive, you think is itself divisive? We should just let the left keep dividing everyone up by race to be inclusive I suppose.... You should listen to yourself

[@londoncalling1757]

Tories next token leader ... no policies just right on media score .... this country needs reform....

[@neilbarker3873]

Don’t bother showing the olympics just show the medal table, in fact that’s probably too much. Just show the betting odds for the number of gold medals the U.K. will get. A bit like the horses.

[@user-we8gk7pe2s]

I dont care if its got Tory anyware in the title

[@ingeborgpowell2878]

KB is pretty useless herself which will mean more wokery, no matter what KB says.

[@Ghost-airlines]

The tories should have disappeared long time ago…it was obvious that a merger with reform would be the solution but they had and will forever have a bad case of Farage Derangement Syndrome it seems like 😂😬🤦‍♂️

[@thomasmills9492]

Any RATIONAL LEADER - PLEASE. 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@dazzwsmith]

This guy must be living in a parallel universe.

[@helenlloyd6564]

Culture Warrior 😊 what culture Nigerian culture. Surely can't be British culture.

[@danpalmer1566]

Im no tory but kemi wouls be there. Best shot Preeti isnt liked amd completely the wrong for a party leader.

[@michaelmcgrath8894]

DEI hire

[@KEIRFerretUpGammonTrowzaaah]

@@michaelmcgrath8894 Gammon THICK-box

[@77Xd2]

Another foreigner😅

[@garypowell1540]

I first met Kemi when she turned up at a Dulwich Conservative Party constituency meeting in 2009. She had obviously been bused in from CCHQ and equally obviously to become the next candidate for Dulwich and West Norwood. We have had a few conversations since this time, but I would not pretend to know her particularly well. She is extremely amiable and bright. Kemi certainly sounds like a true conservative and I have no reason to believe that she is not entirely sincere in everything she says. I have little doubt that she considers herself at least as British as she does Nigerian. Nigeria is a fairly wealthy country by African standards and Kemi comes from a privileged family, received a British-style education, and most surely a far better one than any of my family received in the UK. What I doubt is the level of Kemi's loyalty to the Conservative Party. Clearly, CCHQ has largely gotten Kemi where she is today but CCHQ has done this for many selected individuals in the past. To my knowledge, Kimi has no family or traditional connections to the Conservative Party. IMO Kemi has a strong work ethic, a commitment to traditional family values, and a meritocratic sociopolitical ideology. All fine stuff but I have no reason to believe any loyalty to the Conservative Party whatsoever. I see no reason why Kemi would not fully endorse the policies and opinions of Nigel Farage and his party. Indeed from what I could tell Kemi's views are far closer to those of Nigel Farage than Rishi Sunak, Boris Johnson, or David Cameron. I could be wrong. However, I have no reason to doubt myself from anything she has ever said during private conversations or public meetings. Kemi is certainly a small c conservative or an extremely convincing liar, but I have no reason to believe Kemi is a large C, conservative. Which is, of course, a GOOD THING.

[@RichardPierpoint-di8fi]

Which is ironic, considering neither "Kemi" nor "Badenoch" are exactly Norman names, wouldn't you agree?

[@bozjankwestmacott]

She has a very short fuse

[@alanhargreaves-thevoiceofr2361]

+ a Low i.q . . .not exactly a great combination .

[@francisbyron-falconer]

On what Planet will the Tories be the Next Governing Party?! Not on this Planet anymore! That an absolute Bonkers Notion to think that this will Happen any Time soon

[@waynebillington4766]

I wonder what Mr Churchill would think. Just vote. Reform.

[@nicholaspostlethwaite9554]

Not remotely viable candidate to the UK people. While right on woke if true on her attitude. The far left Conservatives are the problem. They are the same as Labour and religiously pc/woke. Appealing to greed self interest as the woman on here thinks is needed is the problem, we need politicians with morals, principals, ideas, drive. The eu vote was LOST as remain thought it was about their greed and money and the economy, rather than principles. Woke attitudes and concerns are Wrong, religious fanaticism and so are all forms of migration for greed, better lives more money etc. Any direction too!

[@acrux4556]

I think Rishi is better than these people or bring Borris I don't know how but just do it.

[@Brainlixr]

Hahah of you thought they were finished at the election then they are now

[@jasoncooper9391]

Bottom of the barrel 😂😂😂

[@raziel3726]

Kemi wef wannabe 😂😂😂

[@nl4064]

Kemi is the only leader in hte room. the others are weak, narrow minded and cave in too easy. Patel is most disliked person in Conservative ranks and public would never accept her plus she is utterly incompitent

[@dw-yl3ln]

I just don’t see how you can differentiate between Patel and Badenoch. They just seem essentially the same person with different backgrounds to me. Nothing Badenoch has done has ever impressed me. Look at her speech last week, it was cringy, patronising and meandering. Three things that Patel also is.

[@yipzoe3865]

Kemi's parents are Nigerian and she spent her childhood in Nigeria, do you think she will be loyal to UK wholeheartedly? Why did Rishi Sunak leave the D-day ceremony early? Because he didn't care about the British culture, heritage and history at heart. Why did Rishi Sunak celebrate the Indian Diwali in the 10 Downing Street with his Indian fellows? Because he cared about the Indian culture and heritage. Only indigenous British will be loyal to UK wholeheartedly and truely care about the British culture, heritage and history

[@beecee2205]

@@yipzoe3865 define indigenous British ?

[@yipzoe3865]

@@beecee2205 only indigenous British will be loyal to UK wholeheartedly, migrants with different race may be still loyal to their original country and put the interest of their own tribe over the indigenous British

[@davidbarlow350]

She's another WEF puppet. Wake up!

[@noyourewrong599]

so she is Pro Sleep?

[@Mir-wx5ui]

Kemi is the only UK politician that I respect. I wish her a long and successful career.

[@sallyyeomans3456]

And will she also wage war on illegal migration?

[@alanhargreaves-thevoiceofr2361]

if you can get a visa , there is no need to cross illegally. . . .

[@GG-hu9dn]

Badenoch another cardboard tory cut-out?! A coconut with an even faker accent on this occasion?!

[@georgescoresby]

Nobody cares

[@StratsRUs]

Enoch Powell's

[@stpd1957]

Brexit

[@masher71955]

Nasty tory toerag

[@pholdway5801]

How does one speak the truth on here without getting banned?

[@KEIRFerretUpGammonTrowzaaah]

@@pholdway5801 Cos they ban lies

[@pholdway5801]

They have no such habits What they DREAD is FACTS that run contrary to their political stance.

[@danmayberry1185]

Kemi Dunning-Kruger

[@stoyanfurdzhev]

Happy new leager

[@Travis_22]

😂😂😂

[@JohnWilliams-tc6fc]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@elpasomark2336]

Kemi holds the skills to the future of BRITISH people.

[@user-sp5bz2uq8b]

Are you joking? The Tories are finished mate!!😊! Long live labour!!!

[@martinradcliffe4798]

She hides these "skills" well.

[@debb6393]

Kemi holds the skills to future of the British people? Eh? What does that actually mean? They’re the most incompetent and corrupt bunch and will be irrelevant until they get different people in and move back to the centre. Culture wars don’t count because no one cares.

[@alanhargreaves-thevoiceofr2361]

she is NIGERIAN

[@glass-floor]

Kemi offers a vision of equality, fairness, and an inclusive shared identity that all UK citizens can buy into. In contrast, Labour offers a vision of a Balkanized UK where warring identity groups fight it out in a zero sum game for special privileges, and the role of government is to create a system of official prejudice and discrimination based on group identity.

[@KEIRFerretUpGammonTrowzaaah]

@@glass-floor Fake News. Kemi is your gammon dupe

[@GarlandChannel]

Don’t think she is good this woman