Badenoch Declares 'Fight on Our Hands' Against Separatists

Kemi Badenoch, a leader within the Conservative Party, has declared a significant political struggle ahead, targeting what she described as separatists aiming to break up Britain. Badenoch asserted that the Tories are prepared to contest and win the upcoming general election by championing the unity of the United Kingdom.

In a keynote address at the Conservative conference in Birmingham, Badenoch stated that the party faces a "fight on our hands" with pro-independence parties currently leading all devolved parliaments in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. She positioned the Conservatives as the sole party with the "team and the plan to get Britain working again" and the necessary resolve to protect the union.

Badenoch specifically criticized a recent statement by Andy Burnham, suggesting he had "clumsily opened the door to a second independence referendum." She highlighted the efforts of Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay and Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar as being on the "frontline" of defending the union, expressing pride in their leadership and calling for party support.

The Conservative leader also drew parallels to the party's recent by-election victory in Aberdeen South, a win that had been framed as a referendum on North Sea oil and gas drilling. Badenoch attributed this success to understanding local issues and implementing a clear plan, suggesting this model could be replicated nationwide. She stated that the victory demonstrated the party's ability to "win wherever we get our message across" and emphasized that the win was for "everyone who wants to see our great country united."

Regarding energy policy, Badenoch addressed concerns from the Aberdeen area, stating that importing energy increases emissions and that the current government policies were harming the city. She affirmed a commitment to drilling in the North Sea, increasing tax revenues, and driving down energy prices, advocating for a mixed energy approach including oil and gas, renewables, and nuclear power, with a focus on building new small modular reactors for "cheap, clean, abundant energy."