Dashboard/Kemi Badenoch/Sky News interview with Beth Rigby: an early election, Reform and the triple lock

Interview · 6 Oct 2026

Sky News interview with Beth Rigby: an early election, Reform and the triple lock

Kemi Badenoch, Leader of the Opposition

Video: YouTube: Sky News (official channel). Retrieved 7 Oct 2026.

Some bluff & spinProvisional

129 sentences · 18 checked claims · 24 questions

Claim checkedClaim found, not checkedEmotional passage flagged as deflectingEmotional passage, fits the subject

The words of Kemi Badenoch. Transcript from the video's captions, fetched on 2026-10-07; not an official record. Captions do not say who is speaking: Polifiles assigned each turn by reading the captions, without checking the audio. Sky News' upload of the full interview recorded at the Conservative conference in Birmingham (11 minutes), from the first question to the closing thanks, which are left out. The presenter is named in the video description and in the captions ("Beth"). The captions run the two voices together in places, so a few short overlapping fragments are assigned by meaning, not by the '>>' marks (for example "post election as well", "make you angry" and "to have broken" are given to Beth Rigby). Trimmed: ends at "That's what I want to see from you.". Questions are shown in grey boxes. Tap a marked sentence to see the label and its sources. Other speakers' full contributions are in the video.

Beth Rigby

Cammy Badnock, you're here at this conference to talk about progress, but on the hard facts, your party is still polling lower than when you were at your worst ever election defeat in 2024. Since then, you've lost a further two 1,237 councilors, nearly a quarter of your seats in local government. Now, you're preparing for an election next May. That is the last thing you need, isn't it? It's not winnable.

Well, it's about what's right for the country, Beth. Uh, yes, we did have a terrible defeat two years ago, and we now live in a very volatile political era. We had a prime minister who came in two years ago on a huge landslide, and he's gone. Why? It's because politics is very volatile.

It's a multi-party era. But I want people to know,

Partly answeredAsked whether an election next May is unwinnable given the polls and council losses. Says it is about what is right for the country, accepts the 2024 defeat and describes a volatile, multi-party era; does not say whether it is winnable.Our model rated thisNot yet reviewed by a person

Beth Rigby

you don't want an election right now.

So, so I I want what's right for the country. I have said that if Andy Bernham doesn't fund defense properly, we should have an election because really this is about running the country. The election is just the start. We spend too much time focusing on elections rather than on plans for the country.

Partly answeredAsked whether she wants an election now. Says she wants what is right for the country and has said there should be an election if defence is not funded, without saying whether she wants one now.Our model rated thisNot yet reviewed by a person

Beth Rigby

You brought up an you brought up a prospect of an early election. That's why I'm asking you about it. Your chairman Kevin Holl said yesterday, "We're not where we need to be right now. We don't want an election right now. Ideally, it doesn't look winnable for anybody."

Well, yes, that's that that's the point that if there's an election now, there'd be a hung parliament. But actually, the thing about an election is that people get to see what is really out there. What is the offer? We are the only credible alternative to Labor. No one else is.

AnsweredAsked about her chairman saying the party does not want an election now. Agrees an election now would give a hung parliament, and says it would show voters the offer.Our model rated thisNot yet reviewed by a person

Beth Rigby

Um, since you are preparing for a snap poll, will you rule out any deal with reform? Not pre-election, which you've already done, but post election.

I have already said that what I want are reform voters to come back to Conservatives. uh the people in reform are uh up to their necks in scandal

I've done this multiple times postition uh we went into a coalition with the Liberal Democrats in 2010. Many people believe that's when the seeds of our problem started. I want people to know they're getting

DodgedAsked whether she rules out a deal with Reform after an election. Says she wants Reform voters back and that Reform is caught up in scandal, without addressing a post-election deal.Our model rated thisNot yet reviewed by a person

Beth Rigby

to be really clear for people watching this to be really clear not be in government than do a deal with

clear to people watching if you want conservative you have to vote conservative. Um uh and

DodgedAsked to say clearly whether she would rather not be in government than deal with Reform. Says people who want Conservative government must vote Conservative.Our model rated thisNot yet reviewed by a person

Beth Rigby

you would not you'd rather not be in government after an election if that's

not that's a false choice. There are other choices.

Partly answeredAsked whether she would rather not be in government after an election. Rejects it as a false choice and says there are other options, without naming them yet.Our model rated thisNot yet reviewed by a person

Beth Rigby

I'm just asking you. You wouldn't deal do a deal with reform after an election.

What I'm not doing is I'm not taking the words you want to force into my mouth. Let me tell you the situation.

Declined openlyAsked to confirm she would not do a deal with Reform after an election. Says she will not take the words put in her mouth.Our model rated thisNot yet reviewed by a person

Beth Rigby

You've been very clear about no deals before. I'm just asking if that's the same after.

Let me be clear and answer your question. If there is a hung parliament, then we can have another election. We have this in 1974. It's not about u do a deal with reform or don't be in government. In 1974, there were two elections.

I believe that the public will see who is focused and who is not.

Partly answeredAsked whether her no-deals position holds after an election. Says a hung parliament could lead to another election, as in 1974; does not state outright that a deal is ruled out.Our model rated thisNot yet reviewed by a person

Beth Rigby

So clearly, you're not going to deal with do deal with reform. You're saying you'd rather have another election.

Would rather have another.

AnsweredAsked to confirm she would rather have another election than deal with Reform. Says she would rather have another.Our model rated thisNot yet reviewed by a person

I think you asked that question, Beth. Yes,

Beth Rigby

other people did too. And you are still here. Uh you have proved your doubters wrong. uh your ratings are outping the party. Is there some quiet satisfaction for you in that that you've proved the doubters wrong?

So um I believe in myself uh and I'm glad that um many more people believe in me but my satisfaction will only come when we're able to start sorting out the country and that's why it's all about plans.

AnsweredAsked whether she feels quiet satisfaction at proving doubters wrong. Says she believes in herself and is glad others do, but satisfaction will come from sorting out the country.Our model rated thisNot yet reviewed by a person

Beth Rigby

I haven't got loads time. Let's get on to policies. on policies. Are you really going to find up to 15 billion pounds a year from cuts elsewhere to fund abolishing inheritance tax which only the super wealthy millionaires pay anyway? Is that really your priority for this country?

Well, uh I don't know where you've got that from. I haven't announced abolishing uh inheritance tax. I have said that inheritance taxes are a problem. I've met people who talked about farmers considering taking their own lives so that they can pass on their farm.

Partly answeredAsked whether finding up to £15 billion to abolish inheritance tax is really her priority. Says she has not announced abolition and that the tax is a problem, citing farmers; does not address the priority or the cost.Our model rated thisNot yet reviewed by a person

Beth Rigby

Only one in 20 estates pay inheritance tax. Is that really your priority?

Inheritance tax right now has dragged in a lot of people who weren't covered before. It doesn't that the truth is

Partly answeredAsked whether it is a priority when only one in 20 estates pay. Says the tax now catches many people it did not before; does not say whether it is her priority.Our model rated thisNot yet reviewed by a person

Beth Rigby

what less than 5% of the states pay inheritance tax. It's a wealthy tax.

The wealthiest people don't pay it. They have all these trusts and so on. It really affects the middle class. I would like to make sure that everyone whether they're poor or middle class or

AnsweredTold that under 5% of estates pay and it is a tax on wealth. Disputes it: says the wealthiest avoid it through trusts and it falls on the middle class.Our model rated thisNot yet reviewed by a person

Beth Rigby

people have got to be able to question the answer. You just said a middle class people have people that have over a mill a million pound in their estates. Many people watching this.

If you're debating a policy I haven't even announced yet. You're debating a policy I haven't even announced yet. Why don't you wait and hear what it is I want to announce? Um you know so we all know what you think about inheritance taxes. Why don't we wait tomorrow and let people hear what I think about it?

Declined openlyPressed on whether estates of over £1 million are middle class. Says the policy has not been announced and people should wait for her speech.Our model rated thisNot yet reviewed by a person

Beth Rigby

You say it's morally right. Why not use that money to cut taxes for everyone? You could take two P off the basic rate of income tax and give everyone a tax break. Working people a tax break.

We have to. We are not announcing any tax breaks unless we can afford to pay for them. That is what whether it's inheritance taxes or any kind of tax cuts. We are the party of fiscal responsibility. So we're starting with the savings and we need to make sure that where there are tax, they are things that encourage people to go out and work.

Not just to bang

Partly answeredAsked why not use the money to cut the basic rate of income tax for everyone. Says no tax cuts unless funded, savings come first, and taxes should encourage work; does not say why not income tax.Our model rated thisNot yet reviewed by a person

Beth Rigby

say here's a good income tax would encourage working people. not not perhaps in some other tax for the super

I I disagree. I've met businesses that have said that they're not investing because they don't want to have those taxes. We will do what is right for the country.

AnsweredPut to her that an income tax cut would do more for working people. Disagrees, saying businesses tell her they are not investing because of those taxes.Our model rated thisNot yet reviewed by a person

Beth Rigby

Okay. Uh the triple lock uh you're keeping the triple lock. By 2049 to50 it'll say50 billion pounds if you reform it as Burnham wants to. You're not going to keep it for that long are you?

Well, we have been very clear. The triple lock is conservative policy. We brought it in. We're not changing it. The person who's talking about changing it is Andy Burnham.

We think the issue is welfare people who can work who aren't working. Let's be clear though, not elderly pensioners who can work.

AnsweredAsked whether she would really keep the triple lock as its cost grows. Says it is Conservative policy and they will not change it.Our model rated thisNot yet reviewed by a person

Beth Rigby

If Andy Burnham lays the legislation, which he says he will, you're not going to reverse that. You wouldn't revise that. So it could be gone by 2030.

What I'm not doing is speaking in hypotheticals. I don't know what Andy Bernham plans to do with that money. I have to take a situation as I find it. But if people want the triple lock, then they need to vote conservative.

Declined openlyAsked whether she would reverse Burnham's change if it were legislated. Says she will not speak in hypotheticals, and people who want the triple lock should vote Conservative.Our model rated thisNot yet reviewed by a person

Beth Rigby

Okay. Uh I want to come to reform and its approach to politics because there's a discussion in open up about what it means to be English. Your former colleague Swella Bravman said last week, "I've always considered myself British of Asian ethnicity. It's never been something I would question. Of course, I'm not English. I'm not an English person. I am of Asian origin." What did you think about that?

Uh Sella Bravman is a reform MP. She's Nigel Faraj's problem now, not mine. uh she is perfectly entitled to speak about her own identity. I am somebody who doesn't like identity politics. I'm not interested in uh this endless conversation of trying to split people into lots of boxes.

I have children who are half black uh half white. They're mixed race. I don't want to hear rhetoric that makes them feel that they're not a part of this country. So that's reforms language. Uh the Conservative Party is about bringing people together and uniting people.

We just had a World Cup this um we just had a World Cup this summer. Uh nobody was asking whether the black players were English or not. If that's the conversation that reform want to have, that's their business. But I am not interested.

AnsweredAsked what she thought of Suella Braverman saying she is not English. Says Braverman may speak about her own identity, but she dislikes identity politics and such talk excludes people like her mixed-race children.Our model rated thisNot yet reviewed by a person

Beth Rigby

The reason I'm asking you is it has opened up a conversation. Well, well um and that's why I'm asking you what you think.

Well, that's the conversation that they want to have. I want to have a different conversation. But as an ethnic minority, I also feel that um we need to make sure that we speak in a way that is respectful of people of all ethnicities. And I also But but I also

But I also know that as an ethnic minority, people are particularly interested in what I have to say. And I get this.

Partly answeredAsked again for her view on the debate it opened. Says she wants a different conversation and respectful language for all ethnicities, without engaging with Englishness itself.Our model rated thisNot yet reviewed by a person

Beth Rigby

Or as a brown person, do you agree with

I don't want to have that conversation. I'm sick and tired of being pigeonholed. Suela Bravman is not a conservative MP. She can go off and say whatever it is she wants and deal with it. I'm interested in talking about this economy, how we bring people in.

Declined openlyAsked, as a brown person, whether she agrees. Says she does not want to have that conversation and is tired of being pigeonholed.Our model rated thisNot yet reviewed by a person

Beth Rigby

The reason I'm asking you because discussion about Englishness and I want to ask you as a leader and I'd ask

but but I've answered the question identity is personal. It if she speaks about her identity that is her business. It is not for her to police other people's identity. And that is not what the Conservative Party is about. The Conservative Party even back in the 80s was saying some people say someone's black we say they're British.

We have always been about British identity bringing people together whether they're English, Scottish, Welsh or even Northern Irish. Let's talk about bringing this United Kingdom together, not about uh cutting people out. I hate that and I don't want any part of it.

AnsweredAsked as a leader for her view on Englishness. Says identity is personal, nobody should police others' identity and the party stands for a shared British identity.Our model rated thisNot yet reviewed by a person

Beth Rigby

Okay, thank you for that. I've got one final question on values and on your opponents because Farage is under investigation from the parliamentary commissioner for failing to care 5 million donation from Christopher Harbaugh. He said it was personal. Police investigating a number of potential breaches of electoral law over money reform has received. Do you think Nigel Farra is fit to be the British prime minister?

So, uh, let's see what the standards investigation comes out with. I know that if I had received that kind of money, I would have had to declare it. He needs to, uh, follow the rules and play by the same rules everyone else is. Um, he, if he wants to break rules, then he shouldn't be in charge of making rules. Being prime minister means making rules and following them.

We've had previous prime ministers um, even in my party who got into a lot of trouble for breaking rules that they made for everybody else. Uh, it's time for people to follow the rules. It doesn't make sense to me why uh he would get5 million pounds. Uh it felt uh to many people like this was money he was given to run uh as an MP in which case it should have been declared. But let's see what the standards commission found

Well, let's see what the standards commissioner uh has to say. My job now is to talk about the Conservative party. Uh Nigel Farage has to answer for himself and say what standards he thinks are right for this country.

Partly answeredAsked whether Nigel Farage is fit to be Prime Minister. Says to await the standards investigation and that someone who breaks rules should not make them; gives no direct yes or no.Our model rated thisNot yet reviewed by a person

Beth Rigby

One final thing, Andy Barnum, if I may. uh you may not agree uh with his politics or his policies. I suspect you really do not. But do you have professional respect for him as a politician and a leader?

Well, um I think it's very interesting that he became leader without an actual uh contest to the extent that uh people made fun of him saying he was Labour's first female prime minister. I thought that was hilarious. Uh but he is someone who he took the job of Karma. So let's see what he can do. My job is to hold him to account.

Uh it's not uh to give a a personal uh views on how I think he's doing the job. I would like to see him say more on the economy and say more on on defense. Um it's not just about trying to form an emotional connection with the public. Uh he is not

But um the job is about running the country. He's not applying to be everybody's boyfriend. He is applying to be or rather he is in the job where he needs to make sure that we are protected, that we have money, that we can look after ourselves, we're not bankrupt. That's what I want to see from you.

Declined openlyAsked whether she has professional respect for Andy Burnham. Says her job is to hold him to account, not give personal views, alongside remarks on his uncontested leadership.Our model rated thisNot yet reviewed by a person