Kemi Badenoch, the first Black woman to lead a major UK political party, stated on the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg that the Partygate scandal was ‘overblown’ and that the government should not have fined people for breaking lockdown rules. She criticized the previous Conservative government under Boris Johnson, stating that there were serious issues not being resolved and that the public felt they were not being represented or cared for.
Badenoch also mentioned that criminalizing people for breaking lockdown rules, such as creating Fixed Penalty Notices, was a mistake. She believed that the Partygate scandal was blown out of proportion and that the public had a right to be upset, but criminalizing everyday activities was taking it too far. This approach was seen as creating a trap for Boris Johnson, as he, his wife Carrie Johnson, and former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak were among those fined for breaking the rules they had helped create.
The Partygate scandal and the handling of the Chris Pincher scandal, which involved allegations of sexual misconduct by the former Conservative deputy chief whip, led to a series of resignations that ultimately brought an end to Boris Johnson’s government. Badenoch resigned not because of Partygate, but because of how the government handled the Pincher scandal. She cited ministers being sent out to say things that were not true as a turning point for her decision to resign.
Sue Gray led an inquiry into the Partygate scandal, which caused public outrage and led to further scrutiny of the government’s actions during the pandemic. The scandal also resulted in Gray advising Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour government. Badenoch’s honesty and willingness to acknowledge the failures of previous Conservative leaders, including Boris Johnson, have been noted as she takes on her new role as leader of the Conservative Party.
In her interview, Badenoch emphasized the need to address issues that were not being resolved and to ensure that the government speaks for and looks out for the public. She aims to bring honesty and transparency to her leadership role, acknowledging where mistakes were made in the past. The Partygate scandal, along with other controversies, highlighted the need for accountability and responsibility, which Badenoch seems committed to upholding in her new position as leader of the Conservative Party.
