Why does Kemi Badenoch want an even smaller Tory party? - My Ways (feat. Lil Jokey) - Single Recap

Podcast: My Ways (feat. Lil Jokey) - Single

Published: 2026-01-28

Duration: 42 minutes

Guests: Kemi Badenoch, Negin Shirai, Negan Shiragi

Summary

Kemi Badenoch is pushing the Conservative Party further to the right, aiming to regain momentum after defections. This episode examines whether her direction will attract voters or alienate the centrist base.

What Happened

Kemi Badenoch is steering the Conservative Party further to the right to counter recent defections to the Reform Party. She explicitly rejects centrist ideas, aiming to create a party that supports stronger borders and opposes deindustrialization. Despite this push, her speech initially included a line about moving right, which was removed, suggesting internal conflicts about the party's direction.

A new centrist group within the party, featuring figures like Ruth Davison and Amber Rudd, is forming to counteract Badenoch's dogmatism. This internal schism raises concerns about the party's ability to expand its coalition and secure the necessary 30-35% of the vote to win elections. Badenoch's stance is seen as potentially alienating centrists, similar to strategies previously used by David Cameron, who masked a right-wing agenda with broader appeal.

The Reform Party, characterized by its opposition to high immigration, is gaining traction, posing a challenge to Badenoch's leadership. With the Conservative Party's numbers reduced to 115 MPs, there's debate over whether a smaller, ideologically coherent party is viable or strategically sound.

In the realm of international politics, Donald Trump's threat to Iran with a 'big beautiful armada' raises concerns about potential military intervention. Activist Negin Shirai fears that Trump's focus is more on US interests and nuclear deals rather than supporting Iranian democracy and protestors facing severe crackdowns.

Protests in Iran have seen high death tolls and internet blackouts, with funerals becoming acts of resistance. The security forces remain deeply embedded, preventing dissent similar to the 1979 revolution, while civil society outside Iran works on a two-year transition plan needing international support.

The episode also touches on President Trump's divisive comments on the killings of René Good and Alex Pretty, highlighting biases based on political affiliations. This contrasts with the NRA's defense of gun rights and the legal norms of open carry in Minnesota, pointing to a lack of judicial investigation into these deaths.

Key Insights

• The Conservative Party under Kemi Badenoch's leadership is shifting further right to counter defections to the Reform Party, focusing on stronger borders and opposing deindustrialization, despite internal conflicts about this direction.
• A new centrist group within the Conservative Party, including figures like Ruth Davison and Amber Rudd, is forming to challenge Badenoch's rightward shift, raising concerns over the party's ability to secure 30-35% of the vote needed for electoral success.
• The Reform Party is gaining traction with its stance against high immigration, posing a challenge to the Conservative Party, which has seen its numbers reduced to 115 MPs, sparking debate over the viability of a smaller, ideologically coherent party.
• Protests in Iran are marked by high death tolls and internet blackouts, with funerals becoming acts of resistance, while civil society outside Iran is working on a two-year transition plan requiring international support.