Tory Leader Badenoch Defends Scotland Defections to Reform UK

Scottish Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has welcomed defections from the Conservative Party to Nigel Farage's Reform UK party, stating that those leaving "don’t believe in conservatism" and that their departure is "probably for the best." She criticized Reform UK as a populist party advocating for policies like nationalizing oil and gas and increasing benefits, which she says are not authentic conservative values. Badenoch emphasized the need for the Conservative Party to offer a clear and authentic conservative agenda focused on supporting hard work, job creation, and the oil and gas sector, and she called for the scrapping of the windfall tax on oil and gas companies. Despite Reform UK's recent electoral gains and defections of multiple Scottish councillors, Badenoch insisted that the Tories are not finished in Scotland and remain committed to challenging the SNP. She warned against accumulating members who do not share conservative values just to win elections, arguing that such a tactic leads to governance problems, as she believes has happened with Labour. Badenoch's comments come amid growing competition between the Scottish Tories and Reform UK, with the latter surging in recent by-elections and council seats.