The leader of the UK’s Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, says she looks up to Argentina’s President, Javier Milei. She admires how he’s cutting down the size of government and wants to do something similar in the UK.

Badenoch called Milei “the template” she would use as a guide. She praised him for being open with voters and for delivering on his promises.

In Argentina, Milei gained attention during his 2023 election campaign by using a chainsaw as a symbol. It represented his plan to make big cuts in government spending.

When asked if the UK needs someone like Milei and whether she could be that person, Badenoch answered “Yes and yes.” She believes she has what it takes to lead like him.

In an interview with the Financial Times, she said the Conservative Party should be about giving people hope, not just acting as a place for complaints. She said her party should be different from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, which she believes is not offering solutions.

Badenoch admitted that many people in the UK are still unhappy with the Conservative Party because of the recent political chaos. She also said Reform UK is getting a lot of attention right now, which is making it harder for the Conservatives.

She believes people will soon get tired of Farage’s “talking nonsense.” She even said that his party now seems to be more left-wing than the Conservatives when it comes to things like welfare benefits.

Badenoch also said she doesn’t just want to cut parts of the government for no reason. Instead, she wants to look closely at what the government does and make smarter decisions about how it works.

Some people have said that Badenoch could face a leadership challenge from within her party. But she said she’s not bothered by that. She’s focused on doing her job and not on party drama.

She also described herself as very thick-skinned, saying, “I don’t even notice when people try to bring me down.” She believes this tough attitude helps her do her job well.