Badenoch also said she was “deeply concerned” by Labour’s efforts to repeal and replace the last Conservative government’s Troubles Legacy Act, legislation that was widely criticised in Northern Ireland.
She defended her party’s stance, adding: “We went through a lot of pain to get to the point where we could deliver it.
“When you speak to veterans a lot of people were affected, I think they’re worried that again and again, decisions are being made by politicians but they are the ones being held accountable for them.”
The Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act was passed by the Conservatives and had been criticised for including a conditional amnesty.
It was strongly opposed by many victims groups and all political parties in Northern Ireland.
Last month Labour set out a new plan, agreed with the Irish government, that seeks to heal the rift created by the Conservatives’ legislation.
She also denied she was “looking over her shoulder” at Nigel Farage, after recent defections from her party to Reform UK.
“It’s not Labour, and definitely not Reform, only the Conservative Party is going to be good for all four nations of the UK,” she said.
“The party’s under new leadership, I’m not here to talk about what the last Conservative government did, Labour is in power we need to scrutinise what Labour is doing.”