The Tories must rediscover their vim – Kemi is the party’s only chance

There is little point in winning an election if the party is unprepared to govern. Mrs Thatcher knew this and so does Ms Badenoch

Rocco Forte, 22 October 2024 2:22pm BST

The Tory leadership election is vital for the country. It is not just a question of choosing a leader who can hold his or her own, it is a question of identifying someone who understands the depth of change that needs to be undertaken to bring Britain back to a path of growth and prosperity.

There are no quick fixes and leaving the ECHR is no panacea for mending the current state of the country, let alone the even greater mess Labour will leave behind at the end of their term in office.

Immigration is not just dealing with those crossing the Channel illegally by boat, but determining how legal immigration was allowed to reach the unprecedented figure of 2.5 million over two years. We are now told that this is going to continue at a net rate of 300,000 per annum. Who was responsible for the new rules established after Brexit that caused this? No minister at the Home Office ever spoke out honestly about what was going on. Certainly not Robert Jenrick, despite the panache of his resignation over the Rwanda scheme.

What is required is a detailed examination of how the country is run. There is a huge quangocracy initiated by Tony Blair and added to by successive Conservative governments. These non-governmental bodies deal with huge areas of policy, they have great authority and little accountability. They are self-perpetuating, Left-leaning bodies over which the government has little control.

The civil service needs reform. Poorly performing members of staff are never dismissed, just moved around from one department to another.  Ministers who try to impose their agenda are accused of bullying. When government policy is not to civil servants’ liking, it is leaked in a way I have never seen before.

The National Health Service is a disaster. The Conservatives have ploughed in money with ever decreasing levels of productivity. The failure of this approach will be all the clearer when Labour is unable to make any real improvements. A new model needs to be developed; there are examples around the world we could adopt.

Net zero policies are putting a huge burden on the country, yet will have little if any impact on overall global climate. Our energy costs are four times those of the US and 50 per cent higher than continental Europe. There is no coherent strategy for alternative energy sources when the wind is not blowing and the sun is not shining. We are importing huge quantities of gas when we have reserves of our own which we refuse to exploit.

Disgracefully, the poorest members of our society find it difficult to stay warm.

Everyone talks about growth, but very few of our politicians know how to generate it. It seems to be forgotten that it is the private sector that generates growth, not the state. In the year 2000 the private sector represented two-thirds of the economy. Today it is only half. Government has to create the right conditions and incentives, with light touch regulation.  There is no easy answer to any of this.

Kemi Badenoch is the only one of the candidates who presented themselves in the leadership election to fully understand this and when she says there is a great deal of work to be done, she is quite right. Sir Keith Joseph and Mrs Thatcher created the Centre for Policy Studies 50 years ago to prepare in detail for government.  I was taken to lunch with Sir Keith at the Centre by my father back in early 1979 and he laid it all out before us. A similar intellectual effort will be required  by the next leader, and a plan for government will need to be set out in great depth and detail.

Kemi has the energy and the knowledge to do this. She has huge charisma and is able to appeal to wide sections of the population. She is open and frank when it comes to discussing difficult issues. She is highly intelligent and can talk on matters of race and diversity as few others can.

She is also someone who has always been consistent in her views and to the Right of the party – not one who changes her views because they suit the moment.  She is the only chance the Conservatives have to survive as a significant force in the country.

Sir Rocco Forte is Chairman of Rocco Forte Hotels

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