Tory leader Cammy Badenoch has insisted he will not be rushed into policy positions, claiming there is no “quick fix” after the party’s defeat in July’s general election.
Badinovich became the sixth leader of the party. Less than nine years since she was elected in early November.
In an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said that the public had “kicked out” the Conservatives because the party was not trusted and did not deliver, adding that in building trust “It takes a while”.
Badenoch also dismissed concerns that his approach to not watering down policy positions could leave a vacuum that could be filled by Reform UK.
Speaking to Amul Rajan, Badinovich said: “Isalah is saying such things because he hasn’t thought it all through. If you haven’t thought it all out, you can give an easy answer.
“I think and what people are going to get with the new leadership under me is thoughtful conservatism, not knee-jerk analysis.”
“We’re about what we’re for, not just what we’re against,” he said earlier in the interview.
Badenoch said she would not “rush out” policy positions within six weeks and that people would need to “be patient”, but she wanted to make sure people could believe she was telling the truth. So that they can gain their trust.
In response, Reform leader Nigel Farage said the Conservative leader “doesn’t think the level of betrayal means the Tory brand is broken. She takes a huge personal responsibility for it”.
During the leadership contest, Badenoch deliberately avoided specific policy positions, focusing instead on conservative “principles.”
But some in the party – including Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen – have warned against leaving gaps on key issues such as immigration that could be filled by reform.
Houchin told the BBC this month there was a “huge opportunity” for the Tories because Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had “left the field” on immigration and called on the party to present a “sensible narrative”. .
‘Let the people down’
In the interview, Badenoch admitted Again that his party had “let down” the people in the migration area.
The numbers are too high, he said It had previously promised to impose a cap on arrival in the UK. – though she hasn’t specified what level she would consider acceptable.
Net migration A record was created by June 2023 – with the gap between those arriving and staying in the UK standing at 906,000, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The net figure fell to 728,000 in June 2024.
The main migration policy of the previous Conservative government was the Rwanda Deportation Scheme, which was designed specifically to prevent small boats from crossing.
No flights to the East African country were able to fly to the East African country before the July election following a series of legal challenges, and Labor quickly scrapped the scheme after winning power.
The new government has focused on tackling criminal gangs involved in people-trafficking. Sir Keir is announcing an extra £75m. to move into policing the UK’s borders in November.
At a press conference last month, Badenoch said the Conservatives still believed a “stop” was necessary but did not commit to a revival of the Rwanda scheme.
In today’s interview, Badenoch also acknowledged that the local elections in May next year would be difficult for his party, but said it was a marathon and not a sprint.
He said: “The Conservative Party is under a changed leadership and I think voters will start to see that, but it will be slow and steady. It’s the strategy of the tortoise, not the hare.”
A Labor spokesman said: “Every time Cammy Bedenock speaks it is clear that she has no solutions to the problems the Tories have created.
“Under his leadership, the Conservatives have made billions in unfunded spending promises without saying how they will pay for any of it.”
Musk ‘Challenge’
Farage told the BBC last week that reform Was in “open discussions” with US billionaire Elon Musk about donations. To the party
Mr Musk will take up a role within the US government starting in January, with President-elect Donald Trump appointing him to head the Department for Government Efficiency (Doge).
Asked if she was concerned about the possibility of Mr Musk donating to reforms, Badenoch dismissed the possibility but said she “believes in competition”.
She said: “So I think if Elon Musk is giving money to a party, a competing party, it’s a challenge for me to make sure I collect it.”
He said it could be “paradoxical” for reform, and claimed that people in the UK “don’t necessarily like to see politics bought”.