Badenoch: Trump deserved to be thrashed

Badenoch attacks Trump's record

Kemi Badenoch told The Independent Editor-in-Chief Geordie Greig that Donald Trump deserved to be thrashed in the US midterm elections.

Trump abandoned conservative principles

Badenoch said Trump has not acted as a conservative should. She asked where the push for free markets and better trade was, rather than protectionism and America first policies that damage alliances.

“Where is the push for free markets and better trade... rather than protectionism, America first, the squabbling with allies? That's not what conservatives do.”

Trump's style falls short of statesman

The Conservative leader said Trump is charming in person but talks about journalists and individuals in ways that do not meet the standards a statesman should meet, always wanting to get dirty with insults.

“It doesn't meet the standards a statesman should meet - always wanting to get dirty in terms of insults and and so on.”

Badenoch objected to Trump's treatment of allies

She said she did not like it when Trump was rude about Keir Starmer. She also criticised what Trump's administration did to President Zelensky in the White House, calling it awful.

“When he was rude about Keir Starmer... I didn't like that at all. What they did to President Zelensky in the White House was awful.”

Trump wasted an extraordinary coalition

Trump won power with an extraordinary coalition of Latinos and more Black voters than any other Republican, Badenoch said.

Iran policy lacked a plan

Badenoch understood Trump's initial decision to go to war with Iran, which she had backed, because they do not want Iran getting nuclear weapons. But she questioned where the plan was.

“We don't want them getting nuclear weapons. But where's the plan?”

Defeat was entirely self-inflicted

Trump's heavy defeat in the US midterm elections was entirely self-inflicted, Badenoch said. Voters want results, and Trump failed to deliver them.

Badenoch would have preferred Harris

Controversially, Badenoch said she would have been content if Trump had never won a second term and his Democrat opponent Kamala Harris had become President in 2024 instead. She said she likes them both equally.

“People ask me who did I prefer, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump? I would say I like them both equally. Make of that what you will.”

Badenoch savages Johnson and Truss

In the wide-ranging exclusive interview, Badenoch was fiercely critical of Tory predecessors Boris Johnson and Liz Truss for their mistakes in government.

Truss's budget was reckless

Badenoch savaged the disastrous budget that saw Truss kicked out of Downing Street after six weeks.

“You can't just announce £150 billion bailing out people's energy bills and £45 billion of tax cuts with no spending cuts at all.”

Burnham is dangerous despite charm

Badenoch said Andy Burnham was more fun than Keir Starmer, but behind the charm he was dangerous. She called him a foot in mouth politician who says things first and thinks about them later.

“He looks like he'd be more fun company at a party, (but) that makes him more dangerous because he wants to please everybody.”

Farage's Reform Party is bonkers

Badenoch called Nigel Farage's Reform Party bonkers and ruled out serving in a Conservative-Reform Coalition led by him. She said some of Reform's ideas, such as a recent proposal to nationalise Poundland, were plain bonkers.

Farage made emotional connection with voters

Badenoch conceded that before his dip in popularity, Farage had made an emotional connection with voters that the Tories had lost until she became leader.

“What worked for him was having an emotional connection and an authenticity which we as a party had lost, sounding very technocratic.”

Farage's story does not add up

Badenoch questioned how Farage's supporters do not understand how he is getting five million pounds while they cannot pay their energy bills.

“His story doesn't add up.”