Listening to political speeches is normally hard to endure, but last week I went voluntarily to listen to the Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition.
Published: 10 September 2026
I am a great fan of Kemi Badenoch, and I’m proud to say that when others were seduced by Nigel Farage, I was never remotely tempted.
I don’t like spivs.
I have the advantage of having read and written a lot about politics over the last couple of centuries, so I take a long view of politicians.
From the beginning Kemi struck me as a highly intelligent, tough-minded person of real substance, with a passion for truth.
Hence, as she was written off by many of my acquaintances on the grounds that she wasn’t coming up fast with any shiny new policies, I kept saying that I had believed her when she said she needed a year to sort out the party organisation, its funding, its staffing and its policies, and that she wasn’t going to commit herself to any course of action that had not been properly researched.
And, that what was more, according to her intimates, she did not need to be liked — which is a rare and priceless quality in a politician.
In a world where politicians bend to opinion polls, she came to conclusions after much thought and stuck to them.
She was finding her way, and, boy, has she found it!
The public have not yet forgiven the Tories, but Kemi has earned real respect.
I listen religiously to Prime Minister’s Questions, and have appreciated her steady mastering of her exceptionally difficult job.
Her backdrop for the speech was a Victorian building belonging to the London Scottish rifles which was full of memorials to men who had fought and died for their country.
These days she is talking about defence at a time anyone serious is concerned about national security, and seeing the need to prioritise it above everything else.
She told plain truths to an engaged and enthusiastic audience, such as that “If you want peace, you prepare for war.”
She compared the unpreparedness of the United Kingdom to the huge financial commitments made in, for instance, Germany, Poland and Greece.
It was a serious, well-informed speech and she was untroubled by any of the press questions.
She explains patiently that it’s no good shovelling ever more money at the disadvantaged if you can’t provide them with a safe country.
I have hope for our veterans, for Kemi has promoted Alex Burghart to be her deputy.
He has the little understood job of Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, which enables him to stick fingers in the pies of all his colleagues, but has also stayed Shadow Northern Irish Secretary because he cares deeply about the veterans for whom he has been working behind the scenes since he was given the role in July 2024.
He appreciates that those who fight for our country deserve our loyalty.
