Kemi Badenoch Aide Says Tories Finished Apologising Amid Poll Decline

A leaked recording of Baroness Maclean, a key aide to Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, revealed that the Tories believe they have "done the mea culpas" and finished apologizing for their 14 years in power, signaling a shift toward focusing on future policies and rebuilding trust with voters. Maclean criticized the previous government for making announcements without fully considering their impact and emphasized the party's intention to present a coherent policy platform moving forward. However, her remarks have sparked criticism from opposition parties, with Labour chair Ellie Reeves accusing the Conservatives of being "tone deaf" and failing to properly apologize for economic hardships caused during their tenure, including high mortgages and soaring bills. Despite Badenoch issuing a separate apology to business leaders, many Conservative MPs feel it will take years for the public to move past the party's record. Polling data shows the party struggling significantly, trailing behind Labour and the right-wing Reform UK party, which has capitalized on Conservative losses. The internal divide highlights tensions within the party about how to address past mistakes while trying to regain voter confidence.