The Guardian view on Kemi Badenoch’s speech: following the path of denial, delusion and defeat | Editorial

<p>The Conservative leader offers no insight into her party’s past failure and no original ideas that might make it relevant to Britain’s future</p><p>Kemi Badenoch has survived her first <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/conservative-conference-2025">Conservative conference</a> as leader, which is an accomplishment of sorts. On every other metric she is failing. She has not given a plausible explanation for her party’s defeat in last year’s election, and without one she has little prospect of recovering lost supporters or recruiting new ones.</p><p>When she speaks of the Tories’ past record, her analysis is shallow and disingenuous. When she promises a better future, her prescriptions are outmoded and misguided. On the explanation for her present predicament – dismal poll ratings, a shrinking and demoralised membership, a trickle of defections to Reform UK that might yet become a flood – she is silent.</p><p><em><strong>Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tone/letters"> letters</a> section, please <a href="mailto:guardian.letters@theguardian.com?body=Please%20include%20your%20name,%20full%20postal%20address%20and%20phone%20number%20with%20your%20letter%20below.%20Letters%20are%20usually%20published%20with%20the%20author%27s%20name%20and%20city/town/village.%20The%20rest%20of%20the%20information%20is%20for%20verification%20only%20and%20to%20contact%20you%20where%20necessary.">click here</a>.</strong></em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/oct/08/the-guardian-view-on-kemi-badenochs-speech-following-the-path-of-denial-delusion-and-defeat">Continue reading...</a>