Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch spoke about defence aboard HMS Wellington, a decommissioned Second World War vessel moored on the Thames. The Guardian’s John Crace portrayed the setting as an awkward backdrop for a speech addressing Britain’s military preparedness and the party’s time in government.
Badenoch introduced the Britannia Shield, a proposed defence initiative that shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge had devised. According to Crace, the speech did not explain the plan in detail. He also noted that Badenoch questioned why it was being compared to Israel’s Iron Dome, although the Conservative Party had used that comparison in posts on X and in press releases.
The account says Badenoch criticised the government’s border policies and referred to Prime Minister Andy Burnham being in Antigua for a Commonwealth heads of government meeting. Crace also pointed to her comments on living standards, noting that she criticised the lack of improvement during 14 years of Conservative governments, some of which she served in.
In a question-and-answer session, Badenoch opposed aligning UK food regulations with the EU, describing such a move as a red line. She also argued against apologising for Britain’s role in the slave trade, saying that countries should move on from historical events and that Britain should receive credit for ending slavery.
Crace’s article is sharply critical of Badenoch’s performance and the event’s organisation. It argues that the speech offered little clarity about the Britannia Shield and highlights tensions between her criticism of the government and the Conservatives’ own record.
Sources: The Guardian Politics.