Centrist ideas no longer wanted in Conservative party, says Kemi Badenoch

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Centrist ideas are no longer wanted in the Conservative party, Kemi Badenoch has said, arguing that one nation-type Tories or others who have qualms about her rightward direction for the party “need to get out of the way”.Making a speech in Westminster intended to set out her vision for the party after a spate of recent defections to Reform UK, the Conservative leader hit out at what she called the “tantrum” of Robert Jenrick and others.She explicitly rejected the approach of Andy Street, the former West Midlands mayor, and Ruth Davidson, the former Scottish Tory leader, who have launched a new group within the party for what they call “politically homeless” centrist and centre-right voters.While Badenoch said she welcomed any help that could win her party an election, she said this did not involve any policies that were not based around her right-leaning ideas.“They need to recognise the agenda which I’m setting,” she said, when asked about the efforts by Street and Davidson under their Prosper UK banner.

“I’m the leader of the Conservative party, not anyone else,And it is what I think needs to happen that they need to support,Anybody who is trying to push an agenda that is not what I got [elected on], not the platform I stood on, is not being helpful,”Badenoch was clear on her direction, setting out a Reform-adjacent policy platform based around cutting immigration, opposition to net zero policies, slashing social security and lower taxes,“My Conservative party has moved to the right every day since I became leader,” she said in an early draft of the speech, a line Tory officials said was removed only for reasons of length.

The Tories “have to be a truly Conservative party”, Badenoch said in her speech, adding she was relaxed if that meant centrists deciding to leave: “I won’t apologise to those walking away because they don’t like the new direction,We only want Conservatives,”She said: “The people who don’t agree with this direction need to get out of the way … We’re about the future, not the past,We’re not trying to recreate 2006 and it’s not 2016 any more,”While Badenoch argued that her approach was about finding “a common ground” rather than left-right divides, such an explicit repudiation of the historically strong centrist tradition in conservatism is likely to dismay some in the party.

It also could leave her electorally exposed given the Conservatives lost about 60 seats to the Liberal Democrats at the last election, many because more centrist Tory voters abandoned the party,The Lib Dems’ deputy leader, Daisy Cooper, said: “Her slapdown of Ruth Davidson and Andy Street sent a clear message to moderate, centre-ground Conservative voters across the country: she doesn’t want their support,”A Prosper UK spokesperson said the group welcomed Badenoch’s focus on economic growth, adding: “But while the party rebuilds itself, as it must, we will be out there meeting the wider group of voters who don’t yet identify with any party and offering ideas and solutions to the matters they care most about – the cost of living, jobs, housing and more,So, whilst she cracks on, we’ll do the same,”The speech was, however, rapturously received by the audience of MPs and party members, particularly a scathing attack on defectors to Reform, notably Jenrick, her former shadow justice secretary.

She said: “To those who are defecting, who don’t actually disagree with our policies, I will say: I’m sorry you didn’t win the leadership contest, sorry you didn’t get into the Lords, but you are not offering a plan to fix this country.This is a tantrum dressed up as politics.”
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Georginia Hayden’s quick and easy recipe for roast sprout salad with anchovies and parmesan | Quick and easy

Brussels sprouts are for life, not just for Christmas. They’re still making a regular appearance in our house, from shredded and stir-fried with chilli and spice, to roasted and dressed, as in this salad. And what a salad it is: with a caesar-esque dressing, it is crisp, salty and crunchy, and hits all the right notes. You can bulk it out, if you like, by topping it with a few soft, jammy boiled eggs cut into wedges or some shredded leftover chicken. However, it is pretty perfect as it is, as a light lunch or side

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‘Dad never took his customers for granted’: remembering Abdul’s in Sydney’s ‘Little Lebanon’

When Abdul’s Lebanese Restaurant closed earlier this month, it was a shock. A beloved fixture of inner Sydney’s landscape since 1968, the restaurant fed celebrities, broke students and anyone in need of a hearty kebab at the end of a night out.For Hiba Damaa, whose parents Dib and Nizam Ghazal opened the restaurant and named it after her eldest brother Abdul – who eventually ran it with his two brothers – it represented the pioneering spirit of early Lebanese migration.“Abdul’s originated as a Lebanese sweets and pastry shop run by my brother-in-law,” she says. “When he wanted to move on, my parents started selling falafel sandwiches

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How to make a clootie dumpling – recipe | Felicity Cloake's Masterclass

Clootie dumpling is, let’s face it, a much better name than spotted dick, but if you were fond of the latter at school, you’ll probably enjoy this very similar, classic Scottish steamed pudding. Not too sweet and, thanks to the apple and carrot, lighter than it sounds, this is a proper winter dessert and the perfect end to a Burns supper, especially when served with custard or ice-cream.Prep 20 min Cook 3 hr 15 minServes 8-10110g fresh suet, or dried suet or a vegetarian alternative225g plain flour, plus extra for dusting½ tsp baking powder ½ tsp fine salt 1 tsp mixed spice 1 tsp ground ginger ¼ tsp ground allspice ¼ tsp nutmeg 110g soft brown sugar 75g fine fresh breadcrumbs 25g coarse oatmeal, or 25g extra breadcrumbs 200g currants 100g sultanas or raisins – golden ones look especially pretty 1 large green apple 1 carrot Finely grated zest of 1 unwaxed orange or lemon 1 egg, beaten2 tbsp treacle About 60ml milkHalf-fill a large saucepan for which you have a lid with water, then bring to a boil (if you have a pan with handles on the side, so much the better). Soak a clean tea towel (a smooth one, rather than anything fluffy or towel-like) or cheesecloth in water. And have ready some butcher’s string, or similar

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Tin Roof Cafe, Maldon, Essex: ‘Come for topsoil, stay for the shortbread’ – review

A tipoff to try the Tin Roof Cafe in Maldon came with prior warning: I wouldn’t get a table easily as this all-day spot serving brunch, lunches and sweet stuff from the in-house bakery is constant, scone-fuelled bedlam. Red brick walls, greenery throughout, alfresco spaces, allotments growing fresh veg and herbs. Capacious, family-run, dog-welcoming, pocket-friendly. There’s bubble and squeak with hand-cut ham, Korean-style chicken burgers and a vegan burger called, rather brilliantly, “Peter Egan” after, I’m guessing, the animal-loving actor who played Paul in Ever Decreasing Circles.Could this place be any more adorable? No, but still, brace yourself

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Ignore the snobbery and get into blended whisky

We have Robert Burns to thank for perhaps the greatest poem about any dish ever – a poem so good that it inspires an entire nation to dedicate an evening of each year to eating haggis, even though most people find it kind of gross.The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more.No? If the “Great Chieftan o’ the Puddin-race” were that delicious, we’d all be eating it all the time, surely? And yet Burns’ Address to a Haggis is enticing enough to dispel any such doubts just once a year

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Helen Goh’s recipe for Breton butter cake with marmalade | The sweet spot

A Breton butter cake is a proud product of Brittany’s butter-rich baking tradition: dense, golden and unapologetically indulgent. True to its origins, my version uses salted butter, with an added pinch of flaky salt to sharpen the flavour. It also takes a small detour from tradition: a slick of marmalade brings a fragrant bitterness, while a handful of ground almonds softens the overall richness and lends a tender crumb. The result is still buttery and luxurious, but with a brighter, more aromatic edge.Brief stints in the freezer help firm up the dough between layers, making it easier to spread the marmalade without disturbing the base