British Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has released a pamphlet titled *The Right Way* that emphasizes the challenges of governance, particularly the necessity for political leaders to exercise restraint and say no to certain demands. Drawing on her engineering background, Badenoch advocates for a problem-solving approach that begins with asking fundamental questions before calling for government action. She stresses the importance of understanding the root causes of issues, the incentives created by past policies, and the potential behavioral responses to new interventions.
Badenoch argues that economic growth has often been conflated with increased wealth and prosperity, noting that a rise in population can boost overall output without improving productivity per person. She contends that government policies have, at times, driven talent and capital away from Britain by creating a burdensome regulatory environment and discouraging employers from hiring. According to Badenoch, successive administrations have excessively taxed businesses and high earners, making employment more costly and increasing risks associated with hiring and firing.
The pamphlet highlights the cumulative impact of various fiscal and regulatory measures—including payroll and business taxes, employment legislation, and administrative requirements—as a deterrent to investment. Badenoch critiques the tendency of governments to respond to weak economic growth with new schemes or regulations that inadvertently stifle the very activities they seek to promote. She warns that regulations, once implemented, are difficult to remove and often generate vested interests that perpetuate them.
Badenoch calls for a more judicious approach to intervention, emphasizing that not all government action is beneficial or warranted. She asserts that ministers frequently prioritize announcing new initiatives over allowing competitive markets to function independently, and cautions that subsidies or mandates merely shift costs rather than eliminate them, often burdening taxpayers or consumers. While she acknowledges that public investment may be justified where clear public benefits exist that private markets fail to address, she insists that these justifications must be explicitly stated rather than vaguely described as “strategic.”
Addressing environmental policy, Badenoch distinguishes skepticism about the government’s "Net Zero by 2050" program from denial of climate change itself. She characterizes the current Net Zero framework as poorly designed and calls for a government that is capable but not overly interventionist, warning against a hyperactive state that stretches itself thin.
On governance more broadly, Badenoch expresses concern about the limited consequences for poor performance within the Civil Service, noting that only five permanent civil servants in the Department of Health and Social Care were dismissed for such reasons between 2022 and 2025. She also criticizes the expansive reach of human rights law, contending it can constrain democratic governments from implementing policies that majority voters support, such as deporting foreign offenders. She argues that Parliament should have the ability to change laws where necessary and that election outcomes offer accountability for contentious decisions.
Badenoch calls for a shift in political culture that embraces the disciplined choice of priorities, recognizing that finite resources prevent addressing every worthy cause. She highlights a perceived erosion of respect for law and authority, linking this to a broader reluctance among politicians to clamp down on crime and disorder.
On the topic of national sovereignty and identity, Badenoch criticizes the way international laws and courts have been treated as overriding political choices, which she says has weakened Britain’s autonomy. She advocates for a balanced patriotism that acknowledges historical failures without fostering a narrative of guilt or dismantling national heritage. For newcomers to the country, Badenoch emphasizes the importance of embracing British culture, including its values and traditions, while allowing individuals to maintain their own backgrounds and beliefs.
Ultimately, the pamphlet calls for political leaders willing to uphold clear priorities by sometimes saying no to popular demands and reaffirming sovereign decision-making and common allegiance as foundations for the UK's future governance.