Kemi Badenoch breaks silence as UK Prime Minister announces resignation from office
UK Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, has intensified criticism of outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer, describing him as “a terrible Prime Minister” and blaming his administration’s policies for Britain’s challenges following his resignation as Labour leader.
Starmer announced on Monday that he would resign as leader of the Labour Party after less than two years in office, though he said he would remain prime minister until the party elects a successor.
Reacting to the development via X, on Monday, June 22, Badenoch blamed Starmer’s administration for a series of policy decisions she said had weakened the country, arguing that Britain’s challenges were the result of Labour’s choices rather than any inability to govern.
In her criticism of the government, she cited a range of issues, including increased National Insurance contributions, the introduction of what she called the “Family Farm Tax,” the abandonment of major welfare reforms, inadequate defence funding and a failure to expand domestic oil and gas production.
She also took aim at the appointment of Peter Mandelson, accusing the government of failing to be transparent about the circumstances surrounding the decision.
“Hiking national insurance. The Family Farm Tax. Giving up on real welfare reform. Not funding our defence. Not drilling our own oil and gas. Appointing Peter Mandelson… then lying about what had happened.
“Britain is not ungovernable. Keir Starmer is a terrible Prime Minister,” she wrote.
Badenoch further argued that Labour’s problems extended beyond Starmer’s leadership, accusing Labour lawmakers of supporting higher taxation to finance increased welfare spending.
“But the problem isn’t just Starmer. Labour MPs only want higher taxes to hand out more benefits, as the Welfare Secretary has pointed out. These are Labour’s choices and their values, regardless of who is running the party,” Badenoch added.
The Conservative leader used the opportunity to make a case for her party’s return to government.
“We need to get Britain working again. We need the Conservatives.”
Starmer’s resignation follows months of political turbulence, policy reversals and growing public dissatisfaction with his administration.
In his resignation address outside 10 Downing Street, the outgoing prime minister said every decision taken during his tenure had been guided by the national interest and pledged to remain in office until the Labour Party completes the process of selecting a new leader.
