Badenoch criticizes Macpherson report, defends stop-and-search, and proposes scrapping equality duty

Summary

Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, has criticized the landmark Macpherson report into the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence, arguing it led Britain in the wrong direction. She expressed indifference to how many young black boys are stopped and searched by police, claiming more searches would save more black lives. Badenoch also announced plans to scrap the public sector equality duty as part of a strategy to counter the political challenge from Reform UK. She controversially suggested that the Southport murders, Nottingham stabbings, and Manchester Arena bombing could have been prevented if public authorities had followed different guidance.