Kemi Badenoch Insists Scottish Conservatives Can Win Again Despite Dire Polling Projections
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has delivered a rousing address to Scottish Tory members at their final conference before May's crucial election, defiantly proclaiming the party can "win again" despite recent polling placing them in joint fourth position.
Building a Party Fit for the 2030s
Addressing the Scottish Conservative party conference at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, Mrs Badenoch sought to energize the party faithful during what could be her final conference speech before Scotland heads to the polls. The leader, who has held her position for just over a year, declared she was elected specifically to "renew this great party" and asserted this process is now "well under way."
"Under my leadership, we are building a new Conservative Party," she proclaimed. "A party fit for the 2030s, underpinned by our timeless Conservative principles. Unlike anyone else in British politics, we are a party with a plan to get Britain working again."
Mrs Badenoch delivered an impassioned message to attendees: "So let me tell you, we are going to win again, we are going to save this country from a path of economic suicide that is led by the Labour Party in Westminster and by the SNP here in Scotland and we are going to bring the good times back to Britain."
Urging Strategic Voting Against SNP Majority
The Conservative leader emphasized the importance of tactical voting to prevent an SNP majority in the upcoming election. "We need to spread the word that to stop an SNP majority, people need to vote Scottish Conservative and Unionist on their peach ballot paper," she instructed party members.
Mrs Badenoch pointed to historical successes: "We did it in 2016 we did it in 2021 and we need to do it again this year." She urged activists to "follow our principles" and demonstrate to Scottish voters that Conservatives share their values regarding aspiration, family, and community.
"We have to show people here in Scotland that if they care about aspiration, if they care about family and their neighbourhoods, the Conservatives are the party that share your values," she asserted. "We've got to tell them that, we have to show them that these aren't just slogans, but that we also have the plan to back them up."
Polling Projections Paint Bleak Picture
The optimistic rhetoric comes against a challenging backdrop, with a recent poll projecting the Scottish Conservatives could sink to as low as 11 seats in May's election, placing them joint fourth with the Liberal Democrats. This represents a significant electoral challenge for the party.
Following her speech, journalists questioned Mrs Badenoch about whether she would maintain confidence in Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay should these polling projections materialize. She firmly reiterated her support, describing Mr Findlay as the best candidate to become Scotland's first minister and praising him as a "serious person" and "man of integrity."
Scottish Tory Leader Vows to Prove Critics Wrong
Mr Findlay himself responded to the challenging projections with determination: "The Scottish Conservatives have been written off in the past, we've proven them wrong. We proved them wrong in 2016, we proved them wrong in 2021 and I'm looking to prove them wrong again."
The Scottish leader made his position unequivocally clear: "I'm intending to go absolutely nowhere."
Opposition Parties Dismiss Tory Optimism
Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie offered a starkly different assessment: "This weekend Scottish Tories are flooding in their dozens to what could be their most dismal conference yet. Despite Kemi Badenoch's best effort to stir up some enthusiasm, there is no escaping the fact the Scottish Tories are a spent force."
Ms Baillie continued: "The Tories can't stop the SNP – they can't even stop their own politicians from abandoning them in their droves. Scots are being let down by an SNP Government that can't even get the basics right, but only Scottish Labour can get rid of this failing SNP Government and deliver a better future for Scotland."
SNP MSP Jackie Dunbar was equally dismissive of the Conservative conference: "Kemi Badenoch will be wondering if it was worth her while chatting to a few dozen Scottish Tory activists, because the public certainly weren't listening."
Ms Dunbar highlighted ongoing grievances: "Scotland won't forget the betrayal of Brexit, our fishing communities won't forget Boris' broken promises and our energy sector won't forget their tax on Scotland's energy."
The SNP representative contrasted what she characterized as Westminster chaos with Scottish Government achievements: "Despite the chaos in Westminster, the SNP has been focused on delivering for the people of Scotland with John Swinney's strong leadership seeing our first GP walk-in centre opened, rail fares frozen and providing the most comprehensive cost-of-living package available on these islands."
She concluded: "With the Westminster parties focused on themselves, John Swinney is firmly on Scotland's side."
