Kemi Badenoch: conservatives must save the west
Kemi Badenoch has issued a stark warning about the future of western civilisation, urging conservatives to take a stand against what she describes as “poisonous” woke ideology and the Left’s “useful idiots”. In a passionate speech at the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (ARC) conference, she called for the defence of traditional values, including free speech, free markets, and the rule of law.
The prominent Tory minister asserted that the current generation of conservatives must “lead the world back from the precipice”, arguing that Western values are being eroded by a culture of “endless compliance” to progressive demands under the “threat of legal challenge”.
A call to action
During her speech, Badenoch pledged to close “loopholes” in immigration laws and insisted that conservatives must seize this moment in history. “If we get this right, we stand at the dawn of a new conservative century, filled with opportunity and possibility,” she said. “But if we throw this opportunity away due to anger, self-doubt, or weakness, our country – and all of Western civilisation – will be lost.”
She stressed that conservatives are “the guardians of Western civilisation” and must rediscover their courage to defend it. “It requires bravery, not endless compliance at the threat of legal challenge,” she declared.
A defence of traditional values
Badenoch argued that Britain and other Western nations must “get up off our knees and start fighting – not just for the UK, but for the West and our values once again”. She criticised progressives for their focus on gender, climate change, and diversity, claiming these issues have been weaponised for “control” and have weakened the rule of law.
She also took aim at those who, in her view, harbour “embarrassment” or “hatred” towards the West’s historical legacy, accusing them of aligning with “useful idiots who don’t appreciate their own inheritance”. She contended that “some cultures are better than others” and that it has only become controversial to say so because “honesty has become impossible”.
Praise for donald trump and katharine birbalsingh
The senior Tory figure cited former US President Donald Trump as an example of someone who has confronted these issues head-on. She insisted that conservatives must begin “telling the truth” and addressing society’s problems in order to rebuild its foundations.
Badenoch also praised Katharine Birbalsingh, headteacher of the Michaela community school in Wembley, for her resolve in upholding discipline despite intense criticism. Birbalsingh faced legal challenges over banning prayer rituals at her school, but ultimately won her case in the High Court.
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“Katharine showed how you defend Western civilisation,” Badenoch stated. “Contrast this courage with Keir Starmer, the prime minister who took the knee during Black Lives Matter protests in response to a problem that was not in his country and did not apply. Why? Because he was cowed by the mob.”
A warning against weakness
Badenoch concluded her speech by insisting that the real issue is not liberalism, but “weakness”. She urged conservatives to resist external pressures and reclaim their leadership role in shaping the West’s future.
Her comments come at a time of political uncertainty, with speculation that she could be a contender for the conservative Party leadership if polling figures do not improve.
The speech has already drawn sharp reactions, with some praising her forthrightness and others criticising her rhetoric as divisive. However, Badenoch remains steadfast in her belief that conservatism must take an active role in safeguarding the West’s values before they are lost forever.
