The Tories will not win back trust of the British people by simply “pointing out how terrible Labour are”, Kemi Badenoch will say.
Speaking at the launch of her Conservative leadership campaign on Monday, the former Business Secretary will attack the new government as failing to offer “something better”.
But despite reeling off a list of criticisms, including “trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the British public about the state of the UK finances”, she will go on to say that this won’t help her party win the next election.
“If the Conservatives want to become worthy of the British people’s trust again, we can’t just sit around pointing out how terrible Labour are… fun as it is,” Ms Badenoch will say.
“We can’t just keep having the same policy arguments from the last parliament. We lost. We are not in power.
“Labour will fail; and when that time comes, and the British people are looking for change, we have to be that change.
“We have to focus on renewal. The renewal of our party, our politics, and our thinking.”
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The Tories suffered their worst ever general election defeat in July, ushering a Labour government into power for the first time in 14 years.
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Conservatives are split about what direction the party should go in, with some calling for a return to the centre ground and others favouring a shift to the right to combat the threat of Reform UK.
Ms Badenoch, seen as favourite on the right, is up against five others in the race to replace Rishi Sunak: Robert Jenrick, James Cleverly, Dame Priti Patel, Tom Tughendhat and Mel Stride.
Mr Cleverly will also give a speech on Monday, when parliament returns from the summer recess, in which he will say his party must “think and act like Conservatives again” and argue for a smaller state.
He will say the Tories “must get our act together” to present solutions to “an unstable world, global migration and a crisis of confidence in capitalism”.
“That means being honest and realistic about the role of the state. About what it should and can do, and what it should not and cannot. The state should focus on doing fewer things very well, not everything badly,” he will add.
“We accept that the state has a primary duty to protect its people and its borders. But Conservatives must be honest about the trade-offs in doing these things properly.”
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Mr Cleverly will also argue for a “family-first society” rather than looking to the state as the first port of call when a problem arises.
The candidates are seeking support from fellow MPs ahead of the first round of voting on Wednesday, after which the field of contestants will be reduced to four.
The build-up to the ballot has already seen major speeches by Mr Tugendhat, Ms Patel and Mr Jenrick in recent days.
A husting will be held during the party conference at the end of the month, when MPs will vote again to narrow the field to two candidates.
The party’s wider membership will then vote with the winner announced on 2 November.
