Kemi Badenoch’s first speech as Conservative Party leader in full – Irvine Times

Here is her first speech as party leader, delivered immediately after Saturday’s result:

“I want to start by thanking Richard Fuller for his work as our party chairman since July and also Bob Blackman as the returning officer for this race. You and your teams have done us a great service.

“I also want to pay tribute to everyone in the Conservative Party who has been involved in this very long campaign. It was an experience none of us candidates will ever forget. Thank you for welcoming us into your communities, your village halls, your pubs and your homes.

“It is the greatest honor to be elected to this position, to lead the party that I love, the party that has given me so much. I hope I can pay off this debt.

“There are so many people to thank; first, my family, especially my husband Hamish – I couldn’t have done this without you, thank you for being with me every step of the way.

“I also want to thank Rishi. No one could work harder in such hard times. Rishi, thank you for all you have done, we all wish you and your lovely family the best for the future.

“I would also like to pay special tribute to Robert Jenrick, who fought a great campaign.

“Rob, we have all been impressed by your energy and determination. You and I know that we don’t really agree very much, and I have no doubt that you should play a key role in our party for many years to come.

“I would also like to thank all the other candidates, Priti, Mel, Tom and James, for your kind words and many insights.

“We have come through this campaign more united and the party needs you now more than ever.

“The task before us is difficult but simple.

“Our first responsibility as His Majesty’s loyal opposition is to hold this Labor government to account.

“The second is no less important to us. It is to prepare over the next few years for a government to ensure that by the next election we have not just a clear set of Conservative promises that appeal to the British people, but a clear plan for how to implement them, a clear plan for changing this country by changing the way government works.

“The prime minister discovered too late the dangers of not having such a plan.

“This tremendous work begins today.

“It will seek to involve all our colleagues in Parliament, in the Scottish Parliament, the Senedd, our friends in Northern Ireland, as well as councilors and party members.

“But this is not just about the Conservative Party, it’s about the people we want to bring back into the Conservative Party, it’s about the people we need to bring into the Conservative Party.

“This is about what the Conservative Party should be in the next five, 10 and 20 years.

“Our party is critical to the success of our country, but to be heard we must be honest – honest about the fact that we have made mistakes, honest about the fact that we have let standards slip.”

“It’s time to tell the truth. The time has come to tell the truth, stand up for our principles, plan our future, realign our politics and thinking and give our party and our country the fresh start they deserve.

“Time to get down to business, time to renew.”