My friend Kemi Badenoch can see off the triple threat of the SNP, Labour and Reform... and put the Tories back on top

Kemi Badenoch's got the 'X Factor' – and her refusal to back down over Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP's dangerous Gender Recognition Reform Bill shows why she's also got what it takes to lead the Conservative Party

By Ross Thomson, former Scottish Conservative MP and MSP

15:08, 21 Oct 2024

I had the privilege of being elected to the House of Commons in 2017 alongside Kemi Badenoch. Both brand new MPs, finding our way round Westminster as well as around the intense Brexit debates of the day.

Being part of the same intake is like being part of the same class or the same team. You get to know your colleagues very well and you immediately develop a bond of friendship. I can tell you from my personal experience that Kemi is the real deal: a principled Conservative, a courageous and conviction-driven politician, and someone who brings a refreshing approach to political debate that is desperately needed in today’s climate.

As long as I have known Kemi, she has always had the courage to speak plainly about the significant challenges our country faces. Her no-nonsense approach is exactly what we need to reconnect the Conservative Party with voters who are fed up with politics as usual.

Don’t just take my word for it, recent focus groups of voters led by More in Common prove that people see in Kemi something rare: authenticity. They feel she’s a breath of fresh air, and that’s why they’re willing to listen to her. She explains her positions clearly and consistently, which is how we will regain trust and restore faith in our party.

For anyone who has heard Kemi speak it is difficult to deny that she has the ‘X Factor’. She is engaging and charismatic –when she speaks, people actually listen. What’s more, she has an intellectual depth and rigour that strengthens the arguments she is making. As a former engineer, she deftly applies logic and clarity to complex issues, avoiding sloganeering in favour of thoughtful, well-considered policy positions.

This makes her an exceptional communicator, particularly on contentious issues. She has shown incredible courage in tackling difficult issues head on and has the credibility, sincerity, and coherence needed to address both cultural concerns and economic realities.

One of the best examples of Kemi’s strength and leadership is her time as Minister for Equalities. She successfully stood up to Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP’s dangerous Gender Recognition Bill. The risks posed by that bill were real and significant – it would have allowed convicted criminals to change their legal gender without any medical checks, putting vulnerable women and children at risk and undermining the very notion of biological sex.

Kemi did not shy away from the fight. Instead, she courageously challenged the bill, putting together the successful legal case to stop its adverse effects from impacting on the whole of the United Kingdom.

As this failing SNP Government continues to limp towards the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, exhausted of energy and decency, we need someone like Kemi, who will work in close partnership with our excellent new Scottish Conservative leader, Russell Findlay , to bring about a common sense revolution.

Together, Kemi and Russell can challenge the stifling left-wing orthodoxy at Holyrood that has held Scotland back for so long. Together they offer a convincing, real alternative: one that prioitises opportunity, aspiration, and a government that works for the people – not the other way around.

To those who are simply scunnered with the SNP and looking for change in the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections, let me be clear – Scottish Labour is not the answer. Under a Labour Scottish Government, we will see more of the same failed leftist, statist, ideology. Keir Starmer’s UK Government has already shown its miserable failings, from slashing the winter fuel allowance for pensioners to driving investment out of the North Sea.

A Scottish Labour government would be no different — more bureaucracy, more interference, and fewer chances for people to thrive. Of course, we cannot ignore the electoral threat posed by Reform UK, something I have been warning about for some time. Across Scotland, Reform won 7% of the vote at the last General Election. A remarkable result given the party’s lack of organisation in Scotland.

Fundamentally, Reform has gained traction in Scotland because many voters feel disillusioned with the mainstream parties. But this is precisely why I believe Kemi Badenoch is the right leader at the right time.

I am fortunate to know Kemi personally. I have worked with her and consider her a good friend. I can say without hesitation that Kemi is honourable and decent, driven by an immense sense of service. She has real-life experience, having overcome challenges, and she brings that resilience to her leadership. But beyond that, the Kemi I know is thoughtful, kind, and funny.

The Conservative Party needs renewal, and Kemi Badenoch is the leader to make that happen. I am proud to support her, and I know that under her leadership, we can not only renew our party but also our country.

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