Analysis of Kemi Badenoch’s record reveals she’s made pledges and opposed policies worth £7.6billion – but not said what she would cut instead after backing Labour spending
Tories are accused of making unfunded pledges worth £12million for every HOUR since Kemi Badenoch became leader.
New analysis shows she and her team have drawn up a wishlist worth £6.7billion by opposing Government plans and vowing to bring back the Rwanda asylum scheme. But they have given no indication of how to pay for it – sparking allegations of being “completely unserious”.
The Conservative chief says she will bring back tax breaks for private schools and reverse Labour’s decision to close tax loopholes on agricultural land. Confusingly Ms Badenoch said she’s “not against” hundreds of millions of pounds of investment for public services paid for by the moves.
She said the first thing she does if she becomes PM would be to reintroduce tax breaks for private schools, costing the Treasury over £1.7billion. The Tory leader also wants to scrap a £2.5billion raid on capital gains tax included in the Budget, as well as opposing a £955million windfall tax shake-up.
She has also opposed new inheritance tax rules on agricultural land, which is set to raise over £500million revenue in 2029-30. Meanwhile Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp indicated he would resurrect the doomed agreement with Rwanda, which saw the Tories hand over £700million to the African nation.
Labour said cash raised by measures opposed by Ms Badenoch will help fund 40,000 more NHS appointments each week and 6,500 teachers in state schools. In a PMQs gaffe earlier this week she said: “I’m not against any of those things, of course not, none of us are against any of those things.”
It sparked claims by Labour chair Ellie Reeves that Ms Badenoch was “trying to have her cake and eat it”. A Labour spokesman said: “While Labour is fixing the foundations to deliver the change the British people voted for, Kemi Badenoch is demonstrating why the Conservatives were so unfit to govern.
“The Conservatives crashed the economy and left a £22 billion black hole in the public finances. Now Badenoch is showing they would do it all again. Completely unserious.”
The Mirror has contacted Tory HQ for comment.
