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Badenoch demands Labour stop apologising for slavery

Kemi Badenoch speaks at a defence rally on board HMS Wellington (image: Getty)

Kemi Badenoch today threw down the gauntlet to Labour over its pathetic pandering on slavery reparations. Speaking aboard HMS Wellington in central London, the Tory leader tore into Andy Burnham, warning that while he thinks about apologies and more taxpayer-funded cash giveaways, her party is discussing how to cut welfare to fund defence.

Badenoch declared that she is ‘proud of our history’ and wants us ‘to remember our history in a proud way’. She said:

Our amazing royal navy did so many wonderful things. Our navy defended prosperity, freedom of navigation, defended free trade. Our royal navy defeated fascism and it was our royal navy that helped to end the slave trade – something that a lot of people have been talking about these days. Yes, Labour has been talking about apologising because that’s all they do. But I want us to remember our history in a proud way. I’m proud of our history! When you listen to the government it doesn’t sound like they’re proud of our history, it sounds like they’re ashamed of it and they’re complacent.

The remarks come as the Conservatives have recorded their highest level of support since the general election, moving within two points of Our Andeh. YouGov polling puts Badenoch’s party on 24 per cent, up two points on last week. Labour sits on 26 per cent, while Reform is steady on 21.

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Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

This article originally appeared in the UK edition

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