Kemi Badenoch has declared war on net zero and the European Court of Human Rights, purging moderates from the Conservative Party as it edges toward political extinction. The Tory leader has placed anyone who believes the UK should meet its net zero targets by 2050 or remain signed up to the ECHR on a proscribed list for prospective candidates. On Tuesday, former Tory MP and peer Gavin Barwell had the whip removed in the Lords, the first casualty of this ideological purge.
Badenoch's hardline climate stance
Badenoch’s approach to climate change is described as Schrödinger’s climate change—both happening and not happening at the same time. While she stops short of outright denial, her view is that there is no point in trying to do anything about it. “Why bother trying to save the planet for our children and grandchildren when no one else is interested in doing so?” she reportedly argues. As long as other countries burn fossil fuels, the UK should too, leading to a race to the bottom. “Drill, baby, drill. There are no prizes on offer for trying to set an example,” she has said.
Purge of moderates
The purge extends beyond Barwell. Sitting Tory MPs who still believe in net zero and the ECHR are now on a watch list. Shadow energy and net zero secretary Claire Coutinho, who previously supported these targets, underwent a rapid re-education programme before being readmitted to the shadow cabinet. The sensible wing of the party, which has remained quiet to avoid detection, is being written out of history. Badenoch has made it clear she only wants ideologically sound members, even as the party polls at just 19%.
Reform UK and Robert Jenrick
Badenoch has also shown no interest in winning back voters who defected to Reform UK, despite their willingness to sign up to her policies. Robert Jenrick, a former Conservative, remains an outsider. Meanwhile, Reform UK MPs Richard Tice and Jenrick have used the murder of Ann Widdecombe to deflect attention from Nigel Farage’s financial arrangements, accusing the media and government of trying to get them killed. On the Today programme, Jenrick was outraged when Nick Robinson challenged him on Farage’s £5m windfall for security, claiming Farage needed greater protection than the king.
Keir Starmer's legacy
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been busy securing his legacy, first by telling Scotland and Wales to support England in the World Cup, a move unlikely to go down well. In the Commons, he joined Andy Burnham in taking credit for the Hillsborough law he had previously tried to amend. Starmer’s legacy may ultimately hinge on England’s performance in the World Cup.
