In her inaugural media appearance since becoming the Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch addressed the contentious Partygate scandal, which saw former Prime Minister Boris Johnson fined for attending lockdown parties at Downing Street. During her interview on BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, Badenoch described the scandal as “overblown” and criticized the government’s decision to issue fines for “everyday activities” during lockdown.
Badenoch, who served as a junior minister during the Partygate controversy, acknowledged that her predecessor’s government faced “serious issues,” but she downplayed the significance of the Partygate affair in the broader context of Johnson’s leadership. “I thought he was a great prime minister, but there were some serious issues that were not being resolved,” she stated, expressing a belief that the public felt the government was “not speaking for them or looking out for them.” She emphasized that the perception of the government was damaging, with many citizens feeling the leadership was more self-serving than representative.
Regarding the fines issued for lockdown breaches, Badenoch remarked, “I thought that it was overblown. We should not have created fixed penalty notices, for example. That was us not going with our principles.” While Johnson accepted his fine, he has maintained that he acted within the rules, arguing he did not believe he did anything wrong.
Badenoch admitted that the public had valid reasons to be upset about Partygate, stating, “The problem was that we should not have criminalized everyday activities the way that we did.” She highlighted instances where individuals were fined for legitimate activities, such as walking outside, pointing out that these penalties ultimately created a “trap” for Johnson.
Critics were quick to respond to Badenoch’s remarks. Labour Party chair Ellie Reeves expressed outrage, saying, “Listening to Kemi Badenoch dismiss Partygate as ‘overblown’ will add insult to injury for families across Britain who followed the rules, missing loved ones’ deaths and family funerals.” Reeves’s comments reflected the sentiments of many who felt aggrieved by the apparent double standards during the pandemic.
Liberal Democrat frontbencher Sarah Olney echoed this frustration, declaring, “It’s clear the Conservative Party haven’t learnt anything from the years of sleaze and scandal under their watch.” Olney further condemned Badenoch’s remarks as “an insult to those who lost family members during the pandemic while Boris Johnson partied and lied.”
As Badenoch settles into her new role, her comments on the Partygate scandal will likely continue to resonate, revealing a party grappling with its past while attempting to regain the trust of the electorate.
