'Aspects of Margaret Thatcher': Tory members react to Kemi Badenoch's victory

In the Northamptonshire town of Kettering this weekend, all the talk was about the highly anticipated showdown between two rivals – one of the clear favorites to triumph.

But before the FA Cup first round tie between Northampton Town and non-league Kettering got underway, a pub opened its doors early so local Tories could watch their own match.

Inside the Stirrup Cup bar and cafe, about 30 members seemed fairly evenly divided over how they voted in the final decisive round of their party’s leadership race.

After such a landslide general election, the concern for many was to elect someone who could bring peace.

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Member and businessman Michael Walton told Sky News he chose Robert Jenrick at the last minute, despite thinking Kemi Badenoch would “really throw Labor into turmoil”.

“Ultimately I thought we needed a period of stability, so I thought Robert would be the calmer of the two candidates,” he said.

Others had a different view of the road ahead, saying the Tories should definitely move to the right.

“The party is too centrist as we stand now, we have alienated core voters – and that is why we lost the last election,” one man said.

Although even this Badenoch fan acknowledged her tendency to mislead some, she said she could become a more ’rounded’ politician.

There was also some frustration that former Home Secretary James Cleverly did not make it to the final vote.

“I hope Robert wins. I also hoped James would be his deputy as advertised, but James’ announcement last night that he would become a backbencher was a bit disappointing,” local party chairman Mark Rowley said.

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Others spoke off camera and were more critical of the choice presented to them and the lack of an outspoken centrist candidate.

Some Cleverly fans said they would now back Kemi Badenoch, amid simmering distrust over Robert Jenrick’s sudden turn to right-wing politics.

“I think it’s an attempt to appeal to the members and not his actual beliefs… Kemi is the better of the two options,” said member Josh Pitt.

Like the final result was announceda polite applause rippled through the room.

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However, Kemi Badenoch’s first speech as leader impressed many, with harsh statements around the fact that it was ‘time to tell the truth’ going down well.

“I saw aspects of Margaret Thatcher in her and I hope she is like that because I think we need a strong leader. Previously we were a bit sloppy with Rishi Sunak,” said one young member.

However, a lingering tension remains – after such a devastating defeat in July, could this embattled politician be consumed by internal drama as she tries to force her party to take a long look in the mirror?

Among media at the Tory conference last month, Badenoch was often referred to as the ‘journalist’s choice’ – given her tendency to cause trouble and grab headlines.

But Kettering Party deputy leader Jonathon Smith sees this ability to attract attention as a positive.

“I don’t think she’s going to worry about giving people hard truths, I don’t think she’s going to worry about upsetting people in that way. I think politics is often about keeping people from upset, but in a polite way,” he says. said.

In the Northamptonshire FA Cup derby, Kettering got off to a poor start after conceding a first-half own goal, before scoring an extra-time winner that caused a shock.

Tories could be in for an equally dramatic ride with their latest leader choice.