The News Agents Why does Kemi Badenoch want an even smaller Tory party?
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Jan 28, 2026 
Negin Shirai, former journalist and activist now in exile, gives first‑hand testimony on Iran’s crackdown. She discusses US naval posturing and whether outside intervention helps protesters. She describes diaspora divisions, internet blackouts, rising funerals as protest, and the grim prospects for immediate regime collapse.
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Policy Overlap With Reform
- Badenoch's policy list overlaps substantially with Reform and Nigel Farage territory on immigration, welfare, and industry.
- That convergence makes the right's schism more about personality than clear policy divides.
The Centre Has Drifted Right
- British mainstream parties have shifted right over recent decades, changing the political centre.
- That shift complicates repositioning because voters now expect different tone and policies.
Signalling Matters More Than Labels
- Lewis Goodall suggests leaders often signal moderation even if their core views are right-wing to attract voters.
- David Cameron is cited as an example of projecting compassion while holding right-leaning economic instincts.