Badenoch to Starmer: You’re a terrible Prime Minister

The Leader of the Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has reacted to the resignation of Keir Starmer as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Badenoch described his tenure as unsuccessful and blamed Labour Party policies for the country’s current challenges.

In a statement posted on her official X account shortly after Starmer announced his resignation on Monday, Badenoch criticized several decisions taken under his administration, including tax increases, welfare policies, defence spending, energy strategy, and key political appointments.

“Hiking national insurance. The Family Farm Tax. Giving up on real welfare reform. Not funding our defence. Not drilling our own oil and gas. Appointing Peter Mandelson, then lying about what had happened,” she wrote.

Badenoch argued that Britain’s problems go beyond Starmer’s leadership and stem from what she described as Labour’s political values and policy direction.

“Britain is not ungovernable. Keir Starmer is a terrible Prime Minister. But the problem isn’t just Starmer,” she said.

According to her, Labour lawmakers favour higher taxes and increased welfare spending at the expense of economic growth.

“Labour MPs only want higher taxes to hand out more benefits, as the Welfare Secretary has pointed out. These are Labour’s choices and their values, regardless of who is running the party,” Badenoch added.

Calling for a political shift, she maintained that the Conservative Party remains the best option for restoring economic productivity and growth.

“We need to get Britain working again. We need the Conservatives,” she stated.

Starmer announced his resignation less than two years after taking office, bringing an end to a premiership marked by policy reversals and growing political pressure.

The outgoing prime minister, while speaking outside 10 Downing Street on Monday, said he had concluded that it was time for new leadership ahead of the next general election. He revealed that the process of electing a new Labour leader would begin in July and that he would remain in office until a successor is chosen, with the transition expected to be completed by September.

Starmer also said he intends to devote more time to his family after leaving office, acknowledging the demands of the premiership and thanking his wife, Vic, for her support throughout his time in government. He further admitted that increasing pressure within the Labour Party had influenced his decision to step aside.