Kemi Badenoch has made notable strides over the past year in her leadership of the UK Conservative Party, moving from a beleaguered figure at last year’s conference to a more commanding presence with improved personal approval ratings. However, the party itself remains challenged, still trailing in third place in opinion polls and facing significant pressure from Nigel Farage’s populist Reform UK on its right flank. While far from being seen as a credible contender for government, the Conservatives are beginning to establish themselves as a viable opposition force.
The political landscape has shifted with the recent election of Andy Burnham as Prime Minister, whose administration is moving towards a more traditional Labour approach characterized by increased state intervention and higher public spending. This marks a departure from recent Labour governments that combined social democracy with market-friendly policies. Burnham’s tilt towards expansion of public control and increased taxation on business has opened a potential space in the political center that Badenoch’s Conservatives appear poised to contest.
In response, the Conservative Party under Badenoch is emphasizing pro-business and pro-work policies designed to stimulate investment and economic growth. Their agenda includes halving employer national insurance contributions for workers aged 21 to 24, reducing business rates for 250,000 high street businesses, and simplifying the UK’s complex tax system. Badenoch has also pledged to abolish inheritance tax on family homes while introducing a £1 million tax-free allowance, contrasting with Labour’s recent wealth tax expansions.
However, some Conservative positions have drawn criticism. Badenoch’s current commitment to maintaining the "triple lock" on pensions—which guarantees annual increases in line with inflation or wage growth—has been called unsustainable by some observers. Burnham has proposed loosening this policy by 2030 to help fund a national care service, highlighting a divide over fiscal priorities.
Another area of internal debate within the party concerns the UK's relationship with the European Union. Burnham’s government has proposed improving post-Brexit ties, a stance some in the business community may favor. Conversely, the Conservatives have threatened to overturn any new UK-EU agreements put forward by Labour aimed at liberalizing agricultural trade, causing concern among food industry stakeholders about potential regulatory instability.
On immigration, the Conservative Party’s efforts to mimic Reform UK’s hardline policies have drawn mixed reactions. While intended to reclaim voters lost in the 2024 election, this approach risks alienating more moderate or centrist supporters. Recently, Badenoch distanced her party from Reform, rejecting notions of "uniting the right" and emphasizing differences between the two parties. In an emotional speech, she also addressed personal attacks questioning the English identity of her mixed-race children, calling on Reform supporters within the Conservative fold to rejoin her party.
Despite these developments, the Conservatives face challenges in parliamentary depth, with few standout figures beyond Badenoch herself. New shadow chancellor Andrew Griffith has delivered some promising policy signals but has yet to generate broad enthusiasm. Badenoch’s leadership is gradually displaying greater nuance and political sophistication, though rebuilding the party’s unity and electoral appeal remains an ongoing project.