Kemi Badenoch challenges Tory rivals on immigration in London

Kemi Badenoch, a candidate in the Conservative party leadership race, launched her campaign in central London, criticizing her rivals for offering simplistic solutions to complex immigration issues. She specifically targeted the promises made by Robert Jenrick and Tom Tugendhat regarding leaving the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and migration targets, labeling them as 'easy answers.' Badenoch emphasized the need for a deeper understanding of the immigration system rather than just proposing numerical targets. Her comments came amid a competitive atmosphere as the leadership contest was set to narrow down to five candidates. Badenoch's stance was supported by fellow candidate Cleverly, who pointed out that the UK Supreme Court, not the ECHR, was responsible for halting deportation flights to Rwanda. This highlighted the complexity of the immigration debate and the need for realistic solutions. Badenoch also criticized the previous Tory government's approach, claiming they had 'talked right but governed left,' particularly in relation to environmental targets. She argued that setting targets without a clear plan undermined innovation and effective governance. In her speech, she expressed a desire for honesty in politics, rejecting the notion of merely echoing what voters want to hear. Badenoch's focus on 'culture war' issues and her concerns about independent MPs campaigning on sensitive topics further illustrated her commitment to addressing the challenges facing the Conservative party. The leadership race continues to evolve as candidates prepare for upcoming hustings.