New Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch represents worst instincts of the Tory Party
The election of Kemi Badenoch as leader of the Conservatives is an alarm bell for Scotland, says Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie MSP.
After a nasty and divisive leadership contest with many unanswered questions, Badenoch is now at the helm of the Tory Party.
Patrick Harvie says: “I’d congratulate Kemi Badenoch on her new position, but I’d be one of the few doing so. This contest has proved beyond doubt that the few remaining voices of moderate, centre-right Conservatism are now utterly marginalised in the modern Conservative Party. They seem determined to emulate the gutter politics of Farage’s far–right Reform.
“While neither of the final leadership hopefuls gave much for their party to put their faith in, it is truly depressing to see the Tory Party now led by someone as unashamedly divisive as Kemi Badenoch.
“She has based her campaign on a nasty culture war agenda, fuelling division and pitting communities against one another. LGBTQ+ people in particular will be deeply worried that a major party is now in the hands of someone so hostile to our human rights.
“Her scaremongering on net zero targets, at a time when extreme weather events and climate impact on the world’s food system are wreaking havoc, underlines why the Tories cannot be trusted with our climate.
“She takes credit for Rishi Sunak’s decision to push back banning petrol and diesel cars to 2035. Most voters know that we don’t have time to spare, and they want Governments to show leadership and make the transition to Net Zero fair and fast.
“She’s been elected by appealing to the worst instincts of the Conservative Party. We know that the politics she represents is no basis for building a fairer society - we have just endured 14 years of them. I’m confident that Scotland will continue to reject the politics of the Tories, no matter who’s in charge.”