Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has unveiled a renewed vision for the party’s future, drawing inspiration from Margaret Thatcher’s ideological groundwork while outlining a modern framework aimed at restoring conservative principles. Her blueprint, titled *The Right Way*, sets out a coherent sequence of principles intended to guide governance and policy-making, emphasising the importance of having a clear ideological foundation before responding to crises.
Badenoch’s approach reflects on lessons from recent political history, including the prolonged Conservative government that saw policy shifts she regards as contradictory to traditional Tory values, such as increased taxation and surging migration levels. She also cites the rapid downfall of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, attributing his failure to inconsistent policy reversals, as a cautionary example of lacking firm convictions in leadership.
The document, spanning 30,000 words over 95 pages, echoes Thatcher-era themes such as reducing the state’s role in the economy and prioritising tax reform, deregulation, and privatisation. Badenoch critiques what she sees as an overcomplicated and expansive government bureaucracy, which she argues stymies economic growth and public service efficiency. She notes the growth of civil service numbers and arm’s-length public bodies since Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic—highlighting the Lower Thames Crossing project to illustrate delays attributed to governmental inefficiency.
In economic terms, Badenoch rejects the idea that government is the driver of growth, instead asserting that businesses, entrepreneurs, investors, and skilled workers are the true creators of value and prosperity. Her economic philosophy supports lowering taxes and cutting red tape, reiterating a prior commitment to abolish stamp duty on property transactions. She also underscores energy policy, advocating for affordable, abundant, and secure energy as essential to national prosperity.
On immigration and border control, Badenoch stresses the need to re-establish firm boundaries and reduce migration, acknowledging her personal immigrant background while critiquing previous Conservative governments for failing to curb migration effectively. She supports reforms including transferring asylum claim decisions to the Home Office and withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights, measures aimed at reinforcing border integrity and immigration controls.
Badenoch also emphasises a “tough on crime” stance and the importance of cultural integration, positioning the country as a home that must be protected rather than a transient destination. On defence, she advocates for a robust military posture, rejecting the notion of the UK as a “middle power” and calling for Britain to retain its status as a great power amid global competition, particularly in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the strategic challenges posed by the United States and China.
As she prepares to lead the Conservatives into their annual party conference in Birmingham, Badenoch’s manifesto aims to provide a unifying ideological foundation for the party’s revival. Despite modest party polling, her personal approval ratings have improved significantly, fueled by strong performances in parliamentary debates and public appearances. Meanwhile, preparations continue for a potential snap election, with internal party activity accelerating candidate selections and campaign planning.
*The Right Way* is intended to serve as the guiding document for Badenoch’s leadership and policy agenda, reflecting her desire to navigate Britain through complex contemporary challenges by returning to what she regards as core conservative principles.